Washington  - US president-elect Barack Obama and former opponent Senator John McCain pledged to "launch a new era" on Monday during their first meeting since the election.

Obama hosted McCain at his transition team headquarters in Chicago and met privately after appearing for photographs. They later issued a joint statement promising to work together on government reform and across Republican and Democratic party lines to tackle the nation's economic problems.

"We hope to work together in the days and months ahead on critical challenges like solving our financial crisis, creating a new energy economy, and protecting our nations security," the statement said.

Obama soundly defeated McCain on November 4. McCain telephoned Obama to concede that night, but the two had not met since. McCain will continue to represent his home state of Arizona in the Senate.

The two sat in adjacent chairs during a brief appearance and McCain did not address the media. Obama said he also wanted to thank the senator for "the outstanding service he's already rendered." (dpa)