BRICS leaders congratulate US President-elect Trump
November 9, 2016, 8:53 am

A supporter of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump poses for a photo with a poster in New York, the United States, Nov. 8, 2016 [Xinhua]

Earlier last month, Putin had responded to official US claims that Moscow has been intervening in the presidential elections by saying that both Republican and Democratic candidates have been using him as a means to divert attention from more important issues such as the US economy and gun control.

“It’s much simpler to distract people with so-called Russian hackers, spies, and agents of influence. Does anyone really think that Russia could influence the American people’s choice in any way? Is America a banana republic or what? America is a great power,” Putin told a number of foreign policy experts during a meeting in the port city of Sochi in southern Russia on October 27.

On Tuesday, South African and Chinese Presidents Jacob Zuma and Xi Jinping also congratulated Trump.

“South Africa further looked forward to working closely with the new Administration in the United States in promoting peace, security and prosperity around the world, especially on the African continent,” a Department of International Relations and Cooperation statement quoted Zuma.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted saying India looks forward to working closely with Trump “to take India-US bilateral ties to a new height”.

We appreciate the friendship you have articulated towards India during your campaign, @realDonaldTrump.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 9, 2016

Meanwhile, China has said it will work with the new US president to ensure the steady and sound development of bilateral ties.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks at a regular news briefing on Wednesday as Republican Donald Trump moved to the brink of winning the White House in a major upset after a controversial and scandalous campaign cycle.

Trump won key battleground states of Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Florida.

His opponent, former first lady and Secretary of State Clinton, has made a formal telephone call to Trump to concede the election, but will not speak until the next morning, according to media.

At the culmination of what was a very divisive campaign, Trump, in an address to his supporters on Tuesday said “it is time for America to bind the wounds of division”.

“I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for every American. And that is very important to me,” Trump said.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, described the result as a “huge shock” while French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said his personality “raised questions.

TBP and Agencies