World leaders hope for fresh start after Biden win

A screen in Tokyo shows US president-elect Joe Biden speaking Picture: Kiichiro Sato/AP

World leaders welcomed Joe Biden’s election as US president as a chance to enhance co-operation on climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and other issues after four years of Donald Trump’s rejection of international alliances.

Mr Trump had yet to concede defeat, but Western and Asian allies expressed hoped for a fresh start following his “America first” trade policies, withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and attacks on Nato and the World Health Organisation.