Turnbull congratulates France's Macron

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia and the new French president-elect will build even stronger ties between the two great nations.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull has congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his historic election as French president. (AAP)

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his historic election as French president.

Mr Turnbull sent a text to Mr Macron after he defeated far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

"I got a response back thanking me for the congratulations and looking forward to working together," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

Mr Macron's election comes at a time of shared projects for France and Australia, including the huge submarine deal with naval contractor DCNS, he said.

Both nations also have a shared history in terms of conflict.

"We have been side-by-side in freedom's cause for over a century and we are side-by-side in freedom's cause in the Middle East today," Mr Turnbull said.

"So we have great work to do to make the ties between France and Australia stronger still."

Labor leader Bill Shorten is pleased Mr Macron has been elected.

"When mainstream right-wing parties work with mainstream left-wing parties to block out the extremists we do better and I think that's probably the lesson I take out of this for Australian politics," he told reporters.


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Published 8 May 2017 7:54pm
Source: AAP


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