China was quick to congratulate Donald Trump on his shock victory. State television immediately releasing a statement from President Xi Jinping.
“China and the US have an important responsibility in upholding world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity," he said.
It was a diplomatic response at the end of a China-bashing campaign.
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Mr Trump has often accused China of taking away American jobs and manipulating its currency.
If elected president Mr Trump had threatened a 45 per cent tax on Chinese imports into the United States.
But despite President Xi's welcome, analysts in China are not quite prepared to take Mr Trump at his word.
Beijing's Renmin University of China professor Chen Xiaochen said China would focus more on Mr Trump’s actions than his campaign rhetoric.
“Trump has said a lot things which have left a negative impression on Chinese people and people around the world," he said.
"But what's most important is to see what he actually does as president.”
The professor believes a Trump presidency is an opportunity for a fresh start in Sino-US relations, after a “trust deficit” caused by the previous administration's criticism of China’s position on the South China Sea.
“Trump's win shows that American people are using their vote to express what they think of US foreign policy," he said.
"Their message is that they hope America won't act like the police of the world, and intervene in issues like the South China Sea and the Middle East.”
At an official press conference China’s Foreign Ministry brushed off concerns Mr Trump would follow through with any drastic action that could spark a trade war.
“An economic and trade relationship is surely mutually beneficial with win-win results," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
"That is why the trade volume between the two countries grew from $US2 billion in the 1970s to more than $US550 billion last year.”
In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also released a positive statement congratulating Mr Trump, despite earlier concerns regarding the president elect’s opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement and his push for Japan to be less reliant on the US for security.
“The Japan-US alliance is unwavering and tied with the bond of universal values," he said.
"I hope to further strengthen the bond of the Japan-US alliance. I hope to cooperate closely with president-elect Trump.”
The Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte - dubbed the "Trump of the east" - was one of the few world leaders rejoicing at Mr Trump's triumph.
“I would like to congratulate President Trump," he said.
"Long live, Mr. Trump. We are both making curses. Even with trivial matters we curse. We are very similar in that way.”
