US President George Bush was among the first world leaders to telephone the right-wing Sarkozy to congratulate him on his convincing victory over socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal in the runoff election.
"The United States and France are historic allies and partners. President Bush looks forward to working with president-elect Sarkozy as we continue our strong alliance," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
In his victory speech, Sarkozy said the US could count on a friendship with France, which "will always be at their side when they need help."
Franco-American relations cooled in 2003 when Paris, under its now outgoing President Jacques Chirac, took a leading role in the United Nations in opposition to Washington’s plans to invade Iraq.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he had "full confidence" in the 52-year-old right-winger to "provide a driving force" for reform in the 27-country bloc.
Barroso said in a statement: "I rejoice at the prospect of working together for the strengthening of the EU, in a spirit of open-mindedness, for a Europe that does not withdraw on itself but, strong in its values and assets, will win over the challenge of globalisation."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sarkozy would strengthen the French-German axis at the heart of the EU, which will "continue to be the basis to secure lasting peace, democracy and prosperity in Europe.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair telephoned Sarkozy to congratulate him on his win, and Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero praised him as a "solid politician."
He "represents an open and modern right" that would help France "recover its self-assurance and keep being a part of the European locomotive in the 21st century", a statement from Zapatero’s office said.
Italian centre-left Prime Minister Romano Prodi said Sarkozy had won a "handsome victory", saying: "My country, my government and myself, personally, continue to consider France as a key ally and you, personally, as a friend."
Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Jansa said he expects Sarkozy’s win to herald "positive moves in France’s position on some key questions of the European (union) future."
In the first half of next year, Slovenia will be the first of new EU members to hold the union’s presidency and will hand it over to France that year.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed hope that he and Sarkozy could work together towards peace in the Middle East, while right-wing opposition chief Benjamin Netanyahu said that "with Sarkozy, France’s politics will be much more balanced."
Chinese President Hu Jintao also offered his congratulations, promising "to turn a new page of friendly relations and all-round cooperation," according to the Xinhua news agency.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed the victory of Sarkozy, who once derided Japan but has promised to support Tokyo’s bid to win a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. "In a spirit of building a new era of the Japan-France relationship, I want us to join together in our efforts," said Abe, known for his conservative policies.
Abe and Sarkozy, both 52, met in January when the Japanese premier visited France during his European tour. "I sensed his strong determination to make France a better country," Abe said.
Sarkozy was critical of Japan in 2004, at the time making fun of sumo and the ancient capital of Kyoto - which was often visited by Chirac.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban insurgent movement warned that a new French government must pull troops out of the country, but offered to extend a deadline over the release of a French hostage.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he had met Sarkozy, "and I think he’ll make a fine president."
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said she hoped relations between France and New Zealand would continue to improve under new president Nicolas Sarkozy. "France is an important partner for us and things have come a long way since the times of nuclear testing and the Rainbow Warrior," Clark told Television New Zealand.
Greenpeace’s flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, was destroyed in Auckland Harbour in 1985 by a bomb planted by French military spies, killing one person. Relations were further strained in 1995 when President Jacques Chirac ordered a resumption of nuclear testing in French Polynesia.
Congratulations also came from French-speaking parts of Africa, where Sarkozy has promised an overhaul of relations and tacitly criticised Chirac’s "personal" ties with the leaders of questionable regimes.
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said the French people had "chosen in you a man of heart and of action." Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said: "It is with personal pleasure that I offer you my warmest congratulations on your brilliant election... which shows unmistakably the trust in your social project."
