Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008　

Profile: Barack Obama -- U.S. president-elect

    BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday sent messages to congratulate Barack Obama on his election as President of the United States.

    "China and the United States share broad common interests and important responsibilities on a wide range of major issues concerning the well-being of humanity. To grow long-term healthy and stable China-U.S. relations serves the fundamental interests of our countries and peoples and is of great significance to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and development in the world," Hu said in his message.

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama cheer as they arrive at Grant Park on election day in Chicago, where later on election night Obama is to address a rally of more than one million people. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "The Chinese government and I myself have always attached great importance to China-U.S. relations. In the new historic era, I look forward to working together with you to continuously strengthen dialogue and exchanges between our two countries and enhance our mutual trust and cooperation on the basis of the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques, with a view to taking our constructive and cooperative relationship to a new high and bringing greater benefits to people of our two countries and the rest of the world."

    In his congratulatory message sent to Obama on the same day, Premier Wen Jiabao said "a sound China-U.S. relationship meets the common aspiration of the our two peoples and the need to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large."

    Wen also expressed belief that with joint efforts of the two sides, the China-U.S. constructive and cooperative relationship would make new progress.

    Meanwhile, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as Vice President of the United States.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (L) celebrates with his family after he won the U.S. presidential election in Chicago on Tuesday night, Nov. 4, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

German Chancellor congratulates Obama on election

   BERLIN, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his "historic win" of being elected as president of the United States and called for closer transatlantic cooperation. Full story

Karzai congratulates U.S. President-elect, calls for strategy change in Afghan war

    KABUL, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his victory in the U.S. presidential elections and called for change in the strategy on war against terrorism. Full story

Thai PM congratulates Obama on election as U.S. president

   BANGKOK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Wednesday sent congratulation message to Barack Obamaon his election as President of the United States, saying he hoped that warm relations between the two countries would be strengthened. Full story

Indonesia congratulates Obama, expects him to take lead in tiding over financial rout

    JAKARTA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his victory in the United States presidential election, hoping the new president will take a lead in tiding over global financial turmoil. Full story

Australian PM says Obama realized Martin Luther King's dream

   CANBERRA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Wednesday that the U.S. president-elect Barack Obama has realized Martin Luther King's dream 45 years ago. Full story

Iraq sees no hasty change in U.S. policy as Obama wins

    BAGHDAD, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that he does not see any immediate change in the U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq after the Americans elected Barack Obama as their president, al-Arabiyah pan Arab television reported Wednesday. Full story

Democratic Obama wins U.S. presidential elections

WASHINGTON, Nov.4 (Xinhua) -- Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama won the U.S. general elections on Tuesday after grabbing at least 297 electoral votes needed to capture the White House, U.S. media said.  Full story

U.S. President-elect Obama says change has come to America 


    WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said at a huge rally in Chicago, Illinois Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning that "change has come to America."

    Speaking to a stunning crowd of some 125,000 people gathered in the city's Grant Park, Obama said that the road ahead will be long and "our climb will be steep."  Full story

Barack Obama wins U.S. presidential election, McCain concedes defeat

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama won a landslide victory in the U.S. presidential election Tuesday. His Republican rival John McCain conceded defeat minutes later.

    Short of a final result, projections showed that Obama had collected as many as 297 electoral votes after sweeping traditional blue states in the west, including California (55), Washington (11) and Oregon (7), as well as the Pacific state of Hawaii (4). Full story

Democrats take 52 seats of U.S. Senate, U.S. media projects

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democrats have taken 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate, regaining control of the legislative body in the general elections Tuesday, according to a CNN projection.

    Republicans are projected to have taken 34 seats. Full story 

A resident wears a "I voted today" badge after casting his ballot at a polling station in Phoenix, Arizona of the United States on Nov. 4, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>