BEIJING – China was the first world power to react Monday to Russianstrongman Vladimir Putin’s re-election, vowing to push ties to a ‘higherlevel’, but Germany questioned the fairness of the vote and warned thatMoscow would remain ‘difficult’.

Here’s a roundup of global reaction:

*- ‘Cooperative partnership’ -*

Just a day after Xi Jinping was unanimously re-appointed President, theChinese leader said Beijing was willing to work with Moscow.

‘Currently, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperativepartnership is at the best level in history, which sets an example forbuilding a new type of international relations,’ Xi said in a message toPutin, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

‘China is willing to work with Russia to keep promoting China-Russiarelations to a higher level.’

*- ‘Challenges’ -*

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was to congratulate Putin, but the messagewill also raise ‘challenges’ in their relations, her spokesman said.

Berlin and Moscow have ‘differences in opinion’ on issues ranging fromRussian politics to the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.

‘Nevertheless, the continuous contact with Russia’s leadership is veryimportant to us.’

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was more critical, saying: ‘We certainly cannottalk in all respects about a fair political contest as we know it.’

It was ‘unacceptable’ that the election also took place in Crimea, whichRussia annexed from Ukraine four years ago in breach of international law,Maas said.

‘In this respect, we assume that Russia will remain a difficult partner.’

Poland also took up the Crimea theme with the foreign ministry saying thevote on the peninsula was ‘illegal’ and urged respect for Ukrainianterritorial integrity.

*- ‘Modernising Russia’ -*

In a phone call with Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron wished him’success for the political, democratic, economic and social modernisation’of Russia.

But he also urged Putin to shed light on the ‘unacceptable’ double agentpoisoning.

*- ‘Denuclearise North Korea’ -*

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated Putin and the two leadersagreed to work together for North Korea’s denuclearisation, the Japaneseforeign ministry said.

‘The two leaders confirmed their close cooperation in realising NorthKorea’s denuclearisation’ before an expected summit between US PresidentDonald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, it said.

Abe and Putin also discussed joint economic activities on disputed islandsand ‘humanitarian measures’ for former Japanese islanders.

*- ‘Exceptional trust’ -*

‘The Russian people’s exceptional trust in you is a natural outcome of youroutstanding national performance,’ Syrian President Bashar al-Assad toldhis close ally in a congratulatory cable.

*- ‘Develop relations further’ -*

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Putin on his ‘decisivevictory’ and pledged to boost ties.

‘I am sure that during your new term, relations between our two countrieswill develop further,’ he said.

Iran and Russia have strengthened ties in recent years, both giving majormilitary and financial backing to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

*- ‘Strategic ties’ -*

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi sent his ‘warmest congratulations,’according to a statement.

‘(Sisi) lauds the strategic relations that the two countries share andtheir keenness to further enhance them so as to realise the interests ofboth peoples.’

*- ‘Brother countries’ -*

The presidents of leftist regimes in Venezuela and Bolivia effusivelycongratulated Putin both using the same word, ‘overwhelming’ to describethe victory.

Russia and Venezuela are ‘brother countries’ as both must ‘face thefrequent manoeuvres of imperialism’ to ‘impose doctrines of worldsupremacy,’ said President Nicolas Maduro.

Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Twitter that Putin’s win ‘guaranteesgeopolitical equilibrium and world peace before the onslaught ofimperialism’.

*- ‘Health and happiness’ -*

Saudi Arabia’s new strongman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman andhis father King Salman sent congratulations and wished Putin ‘constant goodhealth and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity’. – APP/ AFP