UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has telephoned French President-elect Emmanuel Macron to say that he looks forward to France's strong engagement in global affairs. <br/><br/>His spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the election of Macron is welcome news at the United Nations as it struggles to ward off threats of US funding cuts. <br/><br/>Mr Macron has promised to defend the Paris agreement on climate change and to work with partners to resolve international crises.<br/>Guterres and Macron met in December when the then-candidate for the French presidency was in New York to meet with French expatriates.