European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday called for closer transatlantic ties and for new global governance to address new challenges facing today's world, on the occasion of Barack Obama's inauguration as 44th U.S. president.

"As President Obama begins his historic mandate, I call on Europe and the United States of America to deepen further their transatlantic ties and join efforts to engage others in addressing the great challenges of our time," said Barroso in a statement.

"We need together to promote a renewed politics of global engagement," he said.

The United States and the European Union (EU) should acknowledge their interdependence and the need for openness, while working closely together to shape multilateral responses to global challenges, from the financial and economic crises to peace and security, including in the Middle East, development challenges, and climate change, he said.

Barroso said there is a need for new global governance and a new basis for prosperity. "We are living through challenging times. And the challenges we face have no respect for national frontiers, " said Barroso.

He said he looks forward to working with Obama and his administration to promote a politics of global engagement. "I personally believe that the election of President Obama was a defining, turning point for America. It may now also be an important turning point for the rest of the world," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)