World leaders congratulate Obama on re-election

Agence France-Press

President Barack Obama smiles during his election night victory speech in Chicago, November 7, 2012. REUTERS photo

EU leaders congratulated Barack Obama today on his re-election to the White House, saying they look forward to boosting ties with the United States and cooperating on global challenges.
 
European Union President Herman Van Rompuy, who was first to react, wrote on his Twitter account: "Very happy about the reelection of President Obama." Shortly after, Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso published a statement in which they addressed their "warm congratulations to President Obama."
 
"The United States is a key strategic partner of the European Union and we look forward to continuing the close cooperation established with President Obama over these last four years, to further strengthening our bilateral ties and to jointly addressing global challenges, including in the fields of security and economy," they said.
 
They also "look forward to meeting President Obama at an early date in order to reconfirm our priorities and provide renewed impetus to our joint action."

Merkel congratulates Obama, hails cooperation to beat crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrote U.S. President Barack Obama today to congratulate him on his re-election and hailed their cooperation to beat the global economic crisis.

"I have deeply appreciated our many meetings and conversations about all the issues involved in developing the German-American and the transatlantic relationship, not least in overcoming the global financial and economic crisis," she wrote in a letter released by her office.

Britain's Cameron congratulates 'friend' Obama

British Prime Minister David Cameron said today that he was looking forward to working again with "friend" Barack Obama after his victory in the U.S. presidential race.
 
"Warm congratulations to my friend @BarackObama," Cameron wrote on his Twitter account. "Look forward to continuing to work together." In an official statement issued later from Jordan, where he was visiting a desert refugee camp for Syrians, the prime minister said Obama had had a successful four years and wished him well for the next four.
 
"There are so many things that we need to do: we need to kick start the world economy and I want to see an EU-U.S. trade deal," Cameron said.
 
"Right here in Jordan I am hearing appalling stories about what has happened inside Syria so one of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis.
 
"Above all, congratulations to Barack. I've enjoyed working with him, I think he's a very successful U.S. president and I look forward to working with him in the future."

Obama made history by overcoming a slow economic recovery and high unemployment, which haunted his first term, to beat Republican Mitt Romney.

Hollande says Obama win a 'clear choice for open, united' US

French President François Hollande hailed Obama's re-election as a "clear choice for an open, united America that is totally engaged on the international scene." Obama's victory would "once again reinforce our partnership to facilitate the return of economic growth in our countries, to fight unemployment, and to find solutions to crises that threaten us, notably in the Middle East," he said.

Israel congratulates Obama on victory

Israel's vice prime minister, Silvan Shalom, also congratulated the incumbent on his re-election, saying the Jewish state expected ties with Washington to remain strong.
 
"All the U.S. administrations have supported Israel on the political, security and economic fronts because we have common interests and values," Shalom told public radio.
 
"Barack Obama has been with us during the most sensitive moments," he added.
 
"Those who say that it will be hard and that there will be a confrontation during the second Obama term are wrong." Relations between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have at times been tense, with the Israeli leader appearing to throw his support behind Obama's Republican opponent, Romney.
 
But in recent weeks, as Obama's re-election looked increasingly likely, Israeli officials have sought to stress that a second term for the U.S. president would not see bilateral ties deteriorate.
 
Netanyahu's office had no immediate reaction to Obama's re-election, apparently waiting until after his acceptance speech to offer comment.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has also congratulated Obama and expressed his hopes for continued peace efforts

Canadian PM congratulates southern neighbor

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also congratulated Obama on his re-election late Tuesday to the White House.
 
Canada and the United States "enjoy one of the closest and most extensive relationships in the world," Harper said in a statement, adding that over the years he and Obama "have worked on several important bilateral initiatives to generate jobs and growth in both our countries." "I look forward to working with the Obama administration over the next four years to continue finding ways to increase trade and investment flows between our countries," he added.
 
These plans include ways to "speed up trade and travel across our borders while also enhancing security," and to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, "which seeks to boost trade in the Asia-Pacific region." "On behalf of the government of Canada, I would like to congratulate President Barack Obama on his victory," Harper said.

South Africa's Zuma congratulates Obama

South African President Jacob Zuma also urged the U.S. to continue playing a positive role in Africa in his congratulatory message to Obama.
 
"We value our relations with the United States and look forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the years to come," said Zuma in a statement.
 
"South Africa is confident that the United States will continue to play a positive role in this regard."
 The United States is South Africa's third largest trading partner after China and Germany.

China extends well-wishes

Chinese leader Hu Jintao noted "positive progress" in Sino-U.S. relations over the past four years in his message, China's Foreign Ministry said today.
 
"President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao sent messages of congratulations to President Obama on his being re-elected president of the United States," ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters in Beijing.
 
China will "look to the future and make continuous efforts for fresh and greater progress in the building of the China-U.S. cooperative partnership," Hong said shortly after Obama's re-election.
 
Obama swept to an emphatic win over Romney, declaring victory after picking up crucial swing states.
 
The election comes just before China's ruling Communist Party meets tomorrow for a congress where it will announce a once-a-decade transition in its top leadership.
 
Obama took office in 2009 calling for a broader relationship with Beijing, seeing opportunities for cooperation with the rising power on areas such as the global economic crisis and climate change.
 
But the Obama administration's views hardened in 2010 as Southeast Asian nations and Japan accused Beijing of aggressively staking claims to disputed territories, a move that China has eyed with suspicion.
 
Vice President Xi Jinping, who is almost certain to take the ruling Communist Party's top post of general-secretary during the congress, also sent a message of congratulation to Vice President Joe Biden, the ministry spokesman said.