Italy's prime minister Paolo Gentiloni has welcomed centrist Emmanule Macron's sweeping victory over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in France's presidential run-off on Sunday.
"Hurrah for #Macron President - it offers Europe hope," tweeted Gentiloni.
The pro-European Macron defeated European Union sceptic Le Pen by winning 66.1 percent of ballots against her 33.9 percent. Over 25 percent of voters abstained and a record 11 percent spoiled their ballot papers in a sign of deep divisions among France's electorate.
Macron's win was also hailed by the president of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani.
"Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron - we are counting on France to help change the EU and bring it back closer to the citizens," he tweeted.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker tweeted "happy that the French chose a European future" while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Macron's win was a "victory for a strong united Europe".
US president Donald Trump, British premier Theresa May and Russian president Vladimir Putin and other world leaders praised business-friendly Macron's win.
The euro hit a six-month high against the dollar on the news while Asian shares gained and US stocks briefly reached record levels.
