Secretary-General Ban congratulates US President Barack Obama on re-election

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with

US President Barack Obama at

UN Headquarters in September 2012.

UN Photo/Mark Garten

UN News – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warmly congratulates President Barack Obama on his re-election as President of the United States, a spokesperson for the world body's head said overnight.

“The Secretary-General looks forward to continuing to work with President Obama and his administration in the spirit of the enduring partnership between the United States and the United Nations,” Mr. Ban's spokesperson added in a statement.

According to media reports, while some results have yet to be finalized, President Obama defeated his opponent, Mitt Romney, with 303 Electoral College votes compared to Mr. Romney's 206 Electoral College votes. Under the US presidential voting system, a candidate needs to secure at least 270 Electoral College votes to secure victory.

“Many challenges lie ahead – from ending the bloodshed in Syria, to getting the Middle East peace process back on track, to promoting sustainable development and tackling the challenges posed by climate change,” the spokesperson noted. “All will require strong multilateral cooperation.”

“The Secretary-General and the United Nations will continue to count on the active engagement of the United States on these and other crucial issues as it strives to meet the hopes and expectations of people around the world,” he added.