Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has sent messages to Condoleezza Rice and Stephen Hadley congratulating them on their nomination and appointment, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue on Wednesday.

Li congratulated Rice on her nomination as US Secretary of State and Hadley on his appointment as US National Security Advisor, saying that he appreciated the work they had done to improve and develop Sino-US relations, said Zhang.

Li also expressed his desire to join with them to further develop Sino-US relations in the second term of US President George W. Bush, she said.