Oslo/Copenhagen  - Nordic leaders Tuesday congratulated new US President Barack Obama on his inauguration and expressed hopes for good cooperation in the future with the new administration.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he expected "very, very close ties" to remain between the United States and Denmark, and hoped to cooperate on efforts to tackle climate change.

"We expect him to be very active in achieving a climate treaty in Copenhagen in December," Rasmussen told Danish television news.

Rasmussen also noted Obama's "very tough stance against terrorism" in his inauguration speech, adding that "there was no doubt that he will continue an active US policy against terrorism."

In a congratulatory message, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said he looked forward to cooperating with the president and the United States "to advance peace and development and meet security challenges in Afghanistan. In the Middle East, American leadership is crucial if we are to achieve peace."

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Obama's speech was a "forceful message to the world" that also touched on the United States as a nation.

Bildt told Swedish television that he hoped Obama would use his political honeymoon to outline the necessary parameters for a process for a solution to the Middle East conflict. (dpa)