Tibetan seader Dalai Lama has congratulated Taiwan's new elected President Lai Ching-te after he was sworn-in recently.

In his statement, Lama said people of Taiwan have preserved their rich cultural traditions by electing the new president.

“It is wonderful to see how firmly rooted democracy has become in Taiwan,” he wrote. “The Taiwanese people have not only developed a flourishing, robust democracy, but have also achieved great prosperity, while at the same time preserving their rich cultural traditions.

“May I wish you every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Taiwan.”

Lai Ching-te was sworn-in as the fifth popularly elected president of Taiwan on May 20.