KMT's Ma to promote cross-Straits ties
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-19 05:59

Newly-elected Chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party Ma Ying-jeou has promised to promote exchanges between the KMT and the Communist Party of China (CPC) for peace, prosperity and development across the Taiwan Straits.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (L) is congratulated by his sister Ma Nai-shi after his election victory to become the new leader of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party July 16, 2005. [AFP]

"I hope that both parties will work together for the benefit of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, based on the consensus reached between Lien Chan and Hu Jintao on April 29," Xinhua quoted Ma as saying yesterday.

Ma made the remarks on Sunday in a message to General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao, thanking Hu for his congratulatory message.

Hu sent a letter of congratulations to Ma after he won the Saturday election.

"I sincerely hope that the KMT and the CPC, together with compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, will continue to promote the peaceful and steady development of cross-Straits relations, and join hands to create a bright future for the Chinese nation," Hu said.

It was the first congratulation sent from a CPC leader to an elected KMT head since 1949, showing the normalization of relations between the two parties after the last KMT chairman, Lien Chan, met Hu in Beijing.

Ma, incumbent KMT vice-chairman and Taipei Mayor, defeated his contender Wang Jin-pyng by winning 72.36 per cent of votes in the election to take over as the party chief from retiring Chairman Lien Chan.

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