The Soviet Union took a conciliatory approach to President Reagan's landslide victory today, saying U.S.-Soviet differences can be resolved, while Western leaders expressed hope Reagan's mandate will bring Moscow back to arms talks.
Political leaders in Western Europe praised Reagan's landslide and many of them also urged him to concentrate on disarmament talks with the Soviets.
An article by the official Tass news agency, the first Soviet comment on Reagan's re-election, contained little of the usual harsh criticism.
''There are many problems and they are complex,'' Tass said. ''However, experience shows that a positive, constructive approach to solving them on the basis of equality and equal security is entirely possible.
''Solutions would meet not only the interests of the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. equally but also the world as a whole. It would meet the interest of the Reagan administration itself.''
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in a message of congratulations to Reagan, said: ''Your re-election comes at an opportune moment in international affairs when there are prospects for progress on a number of pressing questions. You can count on Britian to work closely with you in meeting the challenges which lie ahead.''
Australian Foreign Minister Bill Hayden urged Reagan to make disarmament a top priority for his second administration and said he should meet with Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko.
''Let the meeting be concerned with only one matter: an end to the arms race on Earth and in space and a dismantling of nuclear weapons,'' he said. ''Perhaps these two men can achieve what their officials have not been able to do.''
Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Andreotti, in a telegram to Secretary of State George Shultz, expressed hope the victory will permit Reagan to ''further strengthen his commitment for the realization of peace and collaboration between peoples.''
West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, a fellow conservative, hailed the Reagan landslide by saying: ''I am sure he will use his victory to take steps that can lead to disarmament.''
West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, in a cable to Reagan, said, ''I see in your magnificent election success a confirmation of your policy and that of the (NATO) alliance to safeguard peace and freedom through a consistent policy of firmness and readiness for negotiations.''
Neil Kinnock, leader of Britain's opposition Labor Party, said: ''President Reagan now has the strength of a second term of office. He should use that strength to promote nuclear disarmament talks.''
French President Francois Mitterrand congratulated Reagan, expressing the hope that good Franco-American relations will ''serve peace and progress in the world.''
Lionel Jospin, the leader of Mitterrand's Socialist Party urged the new Reagan administration to ''pay more attention to other people around them at home and elsewhere in the world.''
Cuba's Prensa Latina news agency said Reagan's re-election could mean ''a hard blow'' to U.S. domestic social programs and, internationally, to the concept of seeking peace through negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres congratulated Reagan, who he called a ''great and sincere'' friend of Israel. Israeli commentators said a second Reagan term does not necessarily mean Israel will come under heavy U.S. pressure to accept Reagan's 1982 Middle East peace plan.
But Egyptian Foreign Minister Butros Ghali said, ''After two years of preparations and strain from the Jewish lobby, we hope that President Reagan, who is fully aware of the Middle East file, will play an important role as a full partner in the Middle East peace process.''
A leading Palestinian moderate on the occupied West Bank, hailing Reagan's re-election, urged him to revive the peace plan. The plan calls for creation of a politically autonomous Palestinian homeland -- in association with Jordan -- in the West Bank and Gaza.
''The Palestinians should view the re-election of Reagan positively due to his pragmatic approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict,'' said Elias Freij, the mayor of Bethlehem.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Reagan's victory ''gives ... all thinking men hope that ultimately and at last we will be able to re-establish sanity in the world.'' But opposition leader Salvador Laurel expressed hope Reagan will ''stop propping up (Marcos') dictatorial regime.''
South African President Pieter Botha urged Reagan to fight international terrorism and thwart ''Marxist attempts to create chaos.''
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone telephoned congratulations. He praised Reagan for pursuing ''a policy which places importance on the Asia-Pacific region with a special emphasis on the U.S.-Japan relationship.''
New Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi expressed hope ''relations between the two countries will be further strengthened and expanded during Mr. Reagan's tenure.''
China's official Xinhua news agency noted: ''Reagan's victory came as no surprise, since all the public opinion polls conducted before the election day indicated that he would win.''
