BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- World leaders on Wednesday congratulated US President George W. Bush on his re-election, pledging to cooperate with Washington over a host of international issues, notably Iraq, the Middle East and anti-terrorism.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's staunchest ally in the Iraq war, warmly congratulated the president, saying Europe and the United States should rebuild alliance.

    "America and the UK have a unique bond through our shared history and tradition, " Blair said in a statement at his Downing Street official residence.

    Bush's re-election came at a critical time for a world that was"fractured, divided and uncertain", Blair said, adding that Europeand the United States, whose relationship was strained over the Iraq war should build anew their alliance after Bush's re-election.

    "We must be relentless in our war against terrorism and in resolving the conditions and causes on which the terrorists prey,"said Blair.

    He also called on the international community to work with the United States to bring peace in the Middle East area.

    "The need to revitalize the Middle East peace process is the single most pressing political challenge in our world today," Blair said.

    French President Jacques Chirac, the most vocal critic in the anti-war camp, expressed hope that Bush's second term "will provide an opportunity to reinforce Franco-American friendship" and the transatlantic partnership.

    "On behalf of France, and on my personal behalf, I would like to express to you my most sincere congratulations for your re-election to the presidency of the United States of America," said Chirac.

    "I hope that your second term will provide an opportunity to reinforce the Franco-American friendship," Chirac said in a letterreleased by his office.

    "We can only find satisfactory solutions to the numerous challenges with which we are confronted today through a close transatlantic partnership," he added.

    German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who also clashed with Bushover Iraq, congratulated Bush on his re-election and called for common efforts to face the challenge ahead.

    "International terrorism, the danger of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional crisis, as well as poverty, climate change and epidemic disease, all these pose threats to oursecurity and stability," Schroeder said in a greeting telegraph.

    "The challenge can only be met with joint efforts," Schroeder said.

    Schroeder voiced hope that his country would continue its "goodcooperation" with the United States.

    In Madrid, Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero,said his government "wishes to contribute to effective and constructive cooperation with the Bush government."

    Zapatero, who took office last April, changed his predecessor Jose Maria Aznar's policy of strong support for the US intervention in Iraq and withdrew the troops Aznar had sent to Iraq.

    "Everything points to President Bush gaining re-election, so itbehooves me to congratulate the winner," Zapatero said.

    He looked forward to attaining a more solid relation between the United States and the European Union, in order to contribute to the maintenance of the international order.

    In Brussels, the European Union's executive arm extended "warm congratulations" and pledged Europe's renewed commitment to the transatlantic link.

    EU nations were deeply split over Washington's policies, notably on Iraq, in Bush's first term in office, but are now coming together to work for the country's reconstruction.

    Romano Prodi, the caretaker chief of the EU's executive commission, extended his "warm congratulations to President Bush on his re-election after a difficult ballot whose outcome was far from sure.

    "Europe will continue to work to strengthen its bonds of friendship and cooperation with the United States," said Prodi, who has remained in office pending the delayed arrival of a new European Commission.

    "Those bonds, which have never been called into question, are vital to maintaining peace in the world on the basis of multilaterally shared principles and values."

    Prodi said that in his first term, Bush "has had to deal with the horrifying onslaught of terrorism".

    "I hope his second term will see the United States and the whole world enjoy the political stabilization and the guarantee ofcollective security we have all done our utmost to ensure," he said.

    In Asia, Chinese President Hu Jintao said he hoped they could work together to push forward Sino-US ties.

    Since Bush assumed presidency, China and the United States havemade significant progress in cooperation in various fields, bringing substantial benefits to both countries and playing a positive role in promoting peace and development in Asia Pacific and the rest of the world, Hu said in a congratulatory message to Bush.

    "Both China and the United States are great countries and sharea wide range of common interests and basis for cooperation," Hu said.

    "I look forward to continuing to work together with you to further promote the development of the constructive cooperative relations between China and the United States" to benefit the people of the two countries and the rest of the world, the messagesaid.

    Congratulatory messages also poured in from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and leaders from Russia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ireland and Poland, among others.

    Annan said through his spokesman that he was "committed to continuing to work with President Bush and his administration on the whole range of issues facing the United Nations and the world."

    Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Bush as a "predictable partner" and said that Bush's victory would mean the American people had not given in to the threats of international terrorists.

    "I can only feel joy that the American people did not allow itself to be intimidated, and made the most sensible decision," Putin said at a Kremlin news conference.

    He said US-Russian relations have improved under Bush's presidency "for the benefit of our peoples and global security."

    "I have known Bush for four years as a consistent and honorableperson," Putin said. Enditem