Singapore  - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long Wednesday congratulated Barak Obama on being elected the 44th president of the United States.

Citing the challenges ahead, Lee made a case to president-elect Obama for the importance of South-East Asia to the United States.

"The US has many friends and many interests in this region, which is happily not a problem region for the US," said Lee.

"We can keep it that way. An ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) with strong ties to the US will help to keep the peace in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

Lee pointed out that US-Singapore relations are excellent, underpinned by a Strategic Framework Agreement on security matters and a Free Trade Agreement.

"You can count on Singapore as a friend and partner," added Lee. (dpa)