UN chief welcomes President-elect Trump's calls for unity

The Secretary-General UN chief spoke over the phone with Trump yesterday afternoon, congratulating him on his election as the 45th President of the US.

"The Secretary-General welcomed President-elect Trump's calls for unity following a hard-fought election," according to a readout of Ban's telephone conversation with Trump provided by his office.

The Secretary-General expressed confidence that the US and the United Nations would maintain their traditional strong ties of cooperation to advance peace and security, sustainable development and human rights throughout the world.

The two leaders agreed to stay in continued contact, the readout said.

Ban’s tenure as the world’s top diplomat will end this December, before Trump assumes his new role as America’s commander-in-chief on January 20.

Trump’s victory has triggered large-scale protests across the country, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets from New York to California declaring Trump "is not my President."

In a departure from his rhetoric-filled campaign, Trump had in his victory speech made an unusual appeal for unity.

As protests broke out across the US following his election, Trump tweeted, "Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!"

Changing tone, he however tweeted again, "Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!"

The UN Chief had conveyed his wishes to Trump immediately after the real estate billionaire registered a stunning victory in the "hard-fought and often divisive campaign", emphasising that unity in diversity is the country’s greatest strengths and hoping that the Trump administration will strengthen the bonds of international cooperation.

The UN Chief had said current global challenges demand concerted global action and joint solutions.

"The United Nations will count on the new Administration to strengthen the bonds of international cooperation as we strive together to uphold shared ideals, combat climate change, advance human rights, promote mutual understanding and implement the Sustainable Development Goals to achieve lives of peace, prosperity and dignity for all," Ban had said.