Leaders across the world have congratulated US President Barack Obama on winning a second term.British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was looking forward to working again with his “friend”.“Warm congratulations to my friend @BarackObama,” Cameron wrote on his Twitter account. “Look forward to continuing to work together.”Jean-Claude Juncker, who is also the prime minister of Luxembourg, told journalists in Singapore that “it’s always easier to establish a closer work relationship with a US president when he’s starting his second mandate”.European Union President Herman Van Rompuy on Wednesday expressed joy at Barack Obama’s re-election to the White House.“Very happy about the reelection of President Obama,” Van Rompuy wrote in Dutch on his Twitter account.German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere predicted there would be “no changes” in German-American relations. In Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority said on Wednesday it hoped that Obama’s second term would see an end to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.The US and Israel oppose the Palestinian bid to become a non-member observer state at the United Nations.China Transition Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao offered their congratulations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a briefing in Beijing today. China will hold a once-a-decade leadership transition starting this week. “China is ready to work with the U.S. side to deliver greater benefits to our two peoples and the people of the world,” Hong said. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, whose country is America’s biggest ally in Asia and hosts almost 40,000 of its military personnel, told reporters “we look forward to continued cooperation.” South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak welcomed Obama’s re- election and called for continued cooperation in stifling North Korea’s nuclear threat. Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said he plans to build on relations with the U.S. that are the strongest in 30 years, according to a statement on the website of the island’s Presidential Office. ‘Vital’ Leadership Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard called for U.S. leadership on financial stability and climate change in a statement saluting Obama for his win “U.S. leadership remains vital to meeting global challenges,” Gillard said in a statement. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak congratulated Obama and highlighted strengthening relations with the U.S. Two months ago, protests erupted in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Pakistan over a video offensive to Muslims. Asian Trade Obama spent part of his childhood in Indonesia and is scheduled to attend a summit of Asian leaders later this month in Cambodia. He said in 2009 the U.S. would join the Trans- Pacific Partnership, an agreement involving nine Asia-Pacific countries that will undergo its 15th negotiation round next month. “If Barack Obama comes and focuses on the economy and focuses on strengthening relations across the Asia-Pacific region, he can do it because he’s built up the network,” Kishore Mahbubani, dean of the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “He can do a massive amount for the U.S. economy in Asia.” Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga also congratulated US President Barack Obama for his re-election. In his message President Kibaki said the re-election was a re-affirmation of the confidence the American people have in President Obama’s leadership skills.PM Odinga said the re-election of US President Barack Obama had electrified the world.
