MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulation message to French President-elected Nicolas Sarkozy, nearly two days after the latter's winning, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Tuesday.

    "France was and remains for Russia one of the main partners in the global politics and European affairs... The Russian-French relations enjoy a very high level of confidence and mutual understanding now. I link hope for their further strengthening with your election," Putin said in the message.

    Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy won the French presidential race by gaining 53.06 percent of the vote early Monday. Many countries' leaders have expressed congratulations.

    State Duma Speaker and leader of pro-Kremlin United Russia Boris Gryzlov said on Monday that he hoped Russian-French relations would receive a fresh impetus following Sarkozy's victory.