World leaders rushed to congratulate Barack Obama today, basking in the reflected glory of his election as America's first black president and looking forward to a new, less confrontational era in US foreign policy.

Their citizens, and thousands of American expats, ignored any such niceties – partying on the beach in Rio, filling a hotel ballroom in Sydney and cheering to the rafters in Obama, Japan, when their namesake's victory was confirmed.

“What an inspiration. He is the first truly global US president the world has ever had,” said Pracha Kanjananont, a 29-year-old Thai sitting at a Starbucks in Bangkok. “He had an Asian childhood, African parentage and has a Middle Eastern name. He is a truly global president.”

There had never been any doubt that if the outside world had been eligible to vote in the US presidential election, Mr Obama's victory would have been virtually absolute. But electoral etiquette prevented foreign leaders from getting caught up in the fever until the ballots were in and it became clear that the young Illinois senator had sold his message of change to voters back home.

“Forty-five years ago Martin Luther King had a dream of an America where men and women would be judged not on the colour of their skin but on the content of their character,” Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, said. “Today what America has done is turn that dream into a reality."

European nations applauded Mr Obama's victory and expressed hope that it would lead to a “new deal” and energise relations still strained after the US-led invasion of Iraq five years ago and eight years of the Bush Administration.

“By choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism,” President Sarkozy of France wrote in a letter to Mr Obama, praising him for a “brilliant victory” and astute electoral campaign. “At a time when all of us must face huge challenges together, your election raises great hope in France, in Europe and elsewhere in the world."

Gordon Brown praised Mr Obama for "an inspirational campaign" and said that he was hoping that they could work together to help repair the world economy. David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition, added his own political slant: “In these difficult times people everywhere are crying out for change. Barack Obama is the first of a new generation of leaders who will deliver it - he has my whole-hearted congratulations."

In Berlin's Unter den Linden boulevard, where 200,000 people gathered to greet Mr Obama this summer, the revellers were out again last night. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated on his "historic victory" and immediately extended him another invitation. “Be assured that my government is fully aware of the importance and of the worth of our transatlantic partnership,” she said.

In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI congratulated Mr Obama on his "historic" victory, offering his prayers for the President-elect "and for all the people of the United States."

Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the Pope's message was "personal" and would therefore not be published. However he said that the papal message referred to the "historic occasion" of the election and congratulated Mr Obama, his wife and family.

"He assured him of his prayers that God would help him with his high responsibilities for his country and for the international community," Father Lombardi said. The Pope had also prayed that "the blessing of God would sustain him and the American people so that with all people of good will they could build a world of peace, solidarity and justice". The message was sent via Mary Ann Glendon, the US ambassador to the Holy See.

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