China congratulates Joseph Aoun on his election as Lebanon's president, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday, Reuters reports.
Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun was elected president in the second round of the presidential vote held on Thursday.
"China welcomes the election of a new president in Lebanon and congratulates President Aoun on his election. China and Lebanon enjoy a traditional friendship. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Lebanon relations, and will, as always, support Lebanon in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China will continue to promote bilateral friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and push for new development of bilateral relations," said Guo.
The United Nations Security Council on Thursday issued a statement welcoming the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's new president, ending a presidential vacancy that lasted over two years.
The UN Security Council emphasized that electing a new president is crucial for ensuring the full functioning of state institutions, particularly in addressing Lebanon's urgent political, economic, and security challenges.
Members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong support for Lebanon's territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and political independence. They also pledged to remain committed to Lebanon's stability during this critical period.
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday (January 9) welcomed delegates from the U.S., UK, France, Germany, and the EU to discuss developments in Syria's transitional government.
Before the meeting, Tajani praised the election of Joseph Aoun as the new president of Lebanon.
"We believe that this election can foster a new season of good relations between Lebanon and Israel, that we can therefore strengthen the ceasefire also with an increasingly efficient Italian presence in UNIFIL", he said.
On Syria, Tajani said Western sanctions had originally been put in place as a response to former president Bashar Al Assad's human rights violations and that the European Union now had to reevaluate its position.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday (January 9) congratulated Lebanon's new president Joseph Aoun, adding that his "crucial election" opens the way for reforms and prosperity for the country.
Lebanon's parliament elected army chief Aoun head of state on Thursday, filling the vacant presidency with a general who has U.S. support and showing the weakened sway of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group after its devastating war with Israel.
His election reflected shifts in the power balance in Lebanon and the wider Middle East, with Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah badly pummeled from last year's war, and its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad toppled in December.
It also indicated a revival of Saudi influence in a country where Riyadh's role was eclipsed by Iran and Hezbollah long ago.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday (January 9) said that real progress was being made towards a Gaza deal as negotiators try to reach a ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas.
Biden also said he spoke to Lebanon's new president Joseph Aoun earlier. "He's a first rate guy... They're also working very hard."
