BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The "Leave" camp won Britain's Brexit referendum on Friday morning by obtaining nearly 52 percent of ballots, pulling the country out of the 28-nation European Union (EU) and ending its 43-year membership therein.
The result has sparked a torrent of reactions around the world, especially in Britain and in the EU. The following are some quotable quotes on the development.
-- David Cameron, British prime minister:
The British people have made the very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction. I will do everything I can as prime minister to steady the ship in coming months, but I do not think it would be right for me to captain that ship. There is no need for a precise timetable today, but we should aim to have a new prime minister in place by the start of Conservative conference in October.
-- Barack Obama, U.S. president:
The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision.
The special relationship between the United States and Britain is enduring, and British membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone of U.S. foreign, security, and economic policy.
The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship to ensure continued stability, security, and prosperity for Europe, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the world.
-- Angela Merkel, German chancellor:
Today is an incisive day for Europe. With great regret, Germany must now accept the decision of the majority of British population who wish to end membership of Britain in the EU.
The European Union is strong enough to give the right answers to the present day.
-- Francois Hollande, French president:
I respect the choice of the British. The Brexit vote signalled difficulties for the EU, especially for the euro.
I will do everything for us to adopt profound changes rather than a retrogression.
-- Matteo Renzi, Italian prime minister:
Italy did not change its commitment to the path of European integration.
If I have to pick a name for Europe, that name is "home." And home is not only a physical space, but a place built up on sentiments and emotions where to feel solid and safe.
-- Alexis Tsipras, Greek prime minister:
I called for imminent action to change course and rebuild a better EU.
The decision of the British people is respected, but it confirms a deep political crisis, an identity crisis and a crisis in the European strategy.
-- Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group president:
Following the British people's decision to leave the European Union, we are closely following developments around the world and stand ready to support our member countries.
We will continue to work closely with the UK government and the European Union on our common goal to end extreme poverty by 2030 and to help the most vulnerable people in the world.
-- Pedro Agramunt, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe:
A bit of the European ideal has disappeared today following the British vote in favor of leaving the Union.
-- Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
China respects the choice of the British people and hopes Britain and the European Union can reach agreement as soon as possible.
China is still keen to strengthen its ties with Britain, but Britain's choice to leave the EU will have significant ramifications.
China supports the European integration process and would like to see Europe playing a positive role in international affairs. We have full confidence in the prospects for the development of China-EU ties.
-- Nigel Farage, head of the UK Independence Party:
Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day. The eurosceptic genie is out of the bottle and it will now not be put back. EU's finished, EU's dead.
-- Donald Tusk, EU president:
It is true that the past years have been the most difficult ones in the history of our Union, but I always remember what my father used to tell me -- "What does not kill you make you stronger."
-- Martin Schulz, European Parliament president:
Today on behalf of the 27 leaders, I can say that we are determined to keep our unity as 27. The chain reaction that is being celebrated everywhere now by eurosceptics won't happen.
-- Wolfgang Schaeuble, German finance minister:
Europe will stand together now. Together, we must make the best of the decision taken by our British friends.
-- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German foreign minister:
The news from Britain is truly sobering. It looks like it's going to be a sad day for Europe and for Britain.
-- Mariano Rajoy, Spanish acting prime minister:
This result must make all (EU) member states reflect on how to strengthen ourselves more than ever to win back the vigor of the original spirit behind the European project and recover the interest, sympathy and attraction our citizens feel towards it.
-- Mark Rutte, Dutch prime minister:
Firstly it's a disappointing result. It's also a stimulus to reform the EU. I don't believe there's much interest in a (similar) referendum (in the Netherlands).
-- Erhard Busek, former Austrian vice-chancellor:
I did not see the British decision as a rational choice.
