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Asian leaders hail Obama's electoral win, vow to work together+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOKYO, Nov. 5_(Kyodo) _ Government leaders of Asia on Wednesday congratulated U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on his presidential election victory and vowed to work with the new Democratic White House after eight years of Republican rule under George W. Bush. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Japan will cooperate with the new U.S. leader in tackling global issues as a key U.S. ally in Asia. Japan and the United States share common values such as liberty, democracy, respect for basic human rights and the promotion of a market economy, Aso said, adding that the bilateral alliance is the linchpin of Japanese diplomacy and the cornerstone for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. "Working together with President-elect Obama, I will strive to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and to resolve various challenges that the international community faces when addressing issues such as the international economy, terrorism and the environment," Aso said in a statement. Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of congratulations to Obama, saying it is in the fundamental interest of the two countries -- and that of the rest of the world -- that China and the United States have a healthy and stable relationship. "In the new historic era, I look forward to working together with you to continuously strengthen dialogue and exchanges between our two countries and to enhance our mutual trust and cooperation," he said. In Seoul, the South Korean presidential office said President Lee Myung Bak sent a congratulatory message to Obama and expressed hope of further development of bilateral ties. "We are highly attentive to President-elect Obama's stressing the importance of the alliance between (South) Korea and the United States and supporting solid development of relations with (South) Korea, a major ally in Asia," the statement said. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in a congratulatory message to Obama, said, "With the next administration of the U.S., bilateral relations with the Philippines and the U.S. covering various aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life, will remain strong and stable as ever." Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hailed Obama's electoral victory and said Indonesia hopes Obama "will lead the U.S. as a force of peace, for progress, for spreading good and for reforming the international system.". Yudhoyono said the U.S. presidential election is important because the world community faces "enormous global challenges" such as food shortages, energy security, financial crises and climate change. "None of these great issues of our times can be solved without the U.S. on board and certainly, none of these issues can be solved by the U.S. alone. We need to work together to deliver a new age of global cooperation," Yudhoyono said. Born in Hawaii, Obama spent four years in Indonesia after his mother divorced from his Kenyan father and married an Indonesian. Obama went to an Indonesian Catholic kindergarten in South Jakarta and a public school in the elite area of Menteng in Central Jakarta. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a message congratulating Obama, said, "Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people not only in your country but also around the world." The two countries working together to address global issues and challenges will be an important factor for world peace, stability and progress, Singh said in a statement released by his press office. In Islamabad, the Foreign Ministry said Pakistan's President Asif Zardari, who is currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, has sent a congratulatory message to Obama and expressed hope that relations between two countries would be strengthened under the new U.S. administration. The Pakistani government looks forward to discussions with the new U.S. administration on ways to strengthen U.S.-Pakistan relations and to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said. The Afghan Taliban urged the newly elected U.S. leader to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and usher in an "era of peace" in the world. "We want him (Obama) to change the policies of President Bush. He could end the years-long war by withdrawing U.S. and allied troops from Afghanistan," Qari Mohammad Yusuf Ahmadi, spokesman for the Taliban, told the Pakistani-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency. New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark, in a congratulatory message, said the new U.S. leader "will be taking office at a critical juncture," citing pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis and global warming. "We look forward to working closely with President-elect Obama and his team to address these challenges," she said. Copyright ? 2008 Kyodo News International, Inc. |