Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008    

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama acknowledges the supporters at the election night rally in Chicago, the United States, on Nov. 4, 2008, after he won the presidential election.(Xinhua Photo/Zhang Yan) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, June 9 -- We begin in the U.S. where Democrat Barack Obama has defeated Republican rival John McCain to become the first African-American U.S. president.

    But after celebrating his historic victory president-elect Obama will now turn to an array of challenges, including leading a nation grappling with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a global economy in turmoil. Let's takes a closer look at the potential U.S. foreign policy under an Obama presidency.

    Like the breaking of a dam, the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American in the White House has unleashed a global tide of admiration and hopes for change.

    While addressing more than 200-thousand supporters on election night, the president-elect Obama acknowledged the enormous challenges, both domestic and international, he faces.

    Barack Obama, U.S. President-elect, said, "And all of those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared. A new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

    Obama's victory marks the rise of a new generation of U.S. leadership, after 16 years of presidents who came of age during the Vietnam War era.

    47-year-old Obama was still a child when most U.S. troops withdrew from the Southeast Asian nation.

    Many people expect Obama to bring a new style as well as a new tone in American foreign policy.

    Obama has said that he will try to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq in 16 months.

    Ali Al-Dabagh, Iraqi Government Spokesman, said, "I don't deny that the approach of Mr. Obama is going to be different from President Bush, especially on the military issue."

    Obama has also called for reaching out to countries, including Iran.

    The UN chief has called Obama's election an historic opportunity for a new era of American cooperation in solving the world's problems.

    Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, said, "I understand he values highly the resolution of all the conflict issues through dialogue."

    When Obama takes office in January, he may face more difficult challenges than any U.S. president since Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

    But he will do so with many allies in Congress, after the Democrats were able to extend their majorities in both the House and Senate. Obama is also expected to join other countries in tackling the global financial crisis.

    (Source: cctv.com)