US election:China finally congratulates Biden on victory

China congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden on Friday nearly a week after he was declared winner of the American election. "We respect the choice of the American people. We express our congratulations to  Biden and Ms  Kamala Harris," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a regular press briefing, referring to incoming vice president Kamala Harris. Wang said China understands "the result of the US election will be determined in accordance with US laws and procedures". 

China was previously among a handful of major countries including Russia and Mexico that had not congratulated the president-elect, with Beijing commenting simply that it had "noticed Biden declared he is the winner". US-China ties have grown increasingly strained in recent years under the administration of incumbent Donald Trump, and relations are as icy as at any time since formal ties were established four decades ago.