Leaders the world over hailed Barack Obama's triumph Tuesday night in the U.S. presidential election as the dawn of a new era, while calling for the lone superpower to revamp its foreign policy.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was among those who congratulated Obama on his landslide win.
"I wish to congratulate Senator Obama for being elected the next U.S. president. I also wish to congratulate the U.S. citizens for using their right to vote in the elections," President Yudhoyono was quoted as saying by Antara.
He also expressed hope bilateral relations between the United States and Indonesia would improve.
"I believe we can enhance our relations given the fact that both Indonesia and the United States are large democracies," he said.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said Obama's victory provided valuable lessons to the world, including Indonesia, about the long-debated issue of racial discrimination.
"Obama's victory shows us someone from the minority can be elected president of the United States. Discrimination is thus no longer relevant," Kalla said at his office after watching television reports of ballot counting.
The win for Obama, Kalla went on, showed there should be no more talk of race or ethnic issues in the political arena.
"What's important is the quality (of a candidate)," he said.
Kalla was also upbeat about president-elect Obama's handling of the economic downturn in the U.S.
"Obama can rescue the U.S. economy. It might take one or two years. It will have a positive impact on a global, and Indonesian, economic recovery," he said.
Din Syamsuddin, chairman of Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, was optimistic Obama's victory would restore relations between the United States and Muslim countries across the globe.
"(Obama's win) brings us new hope, especially for efforts to mend relations with Muslim countries," Din, in the Vatican City for talks on Catholic-Muslim ties, told The Jakarta Post by phone on Wednesday.
He said U.S. relations with such nations had taken a battering from President George W. Bush's "double standards" in resolving problems.
"Obama needs a friendly approach to Muslim countries to improve the relations," Din said.
Elsewhere, French President Nicolas Sarkozy also joined world leaders in congratulating the 47-year-old senator from Illinois.
"Your brilliant victory rewards a tireless commitment to serve the American people. It also crowns an exceptional campaign whose inspiration and exaltation have proved to the entire world the vitality of America democracy," Sarkozy said in Paris as reported by AFP.
"By choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism."
"This is a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written," said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
"Barack Obama ran an inspirational campaign, energizing politics with his progressive values and his vision for the future."
In a written message, Chinese President Hu Jintao said, "In a new historical era, I look forward to... taking our bilateral relationship of constructive cooperation to a new level."
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso also pledged to work with the new U.S. leader on strengthening relations.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called it an "extraordinary" victory, while Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Obama's win was a landmark for equality 45 years after Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech.
"Today what America has done is turn that dream into a reality," Rudd told reporters.
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso called for the election to usher in a "new deal" between the United States and the rest of the world to tackle the global financial crisis and other troubles.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in his first state of the nation address that the Kremlin hoped "our partners, the new U.S. administration, will make the choice for fully fledged relations with Russia."
But with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dominating the White House's priorities abroad, there were also calls for a change of tack on the U.S. "war on terror" launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"The 'war on terror' cannot be fought in Afghan villages... Afghanistan is the victim of terrorism," Afghan President Hamid Karzai said.
Obama's election would not lead to a quick U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said.
"We don't think there will be a change in policy overnight. There won't be quick disengagement here. A great deal is at stake," Zebari told AFP.
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he was certain U.S.-Israeli ties would strengthen under Obama.
"Israeli-U.S. relations are a special relationship based on values and common interest, with tight cooperation," he said in a statement.
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