Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, extended his congratulations yesterday to Wu Poh-hsiung, chairman-elect of the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT) in Taiwan.

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

Responding to Hu, Wu promised that he will work to promote peace and development across the Taiwan Straits.

"After I take up the post of KMT chairman, I will follow the five-point consensus outlined in the joint press communique signed by our two parties on April 29, 2005, and continue to work for peace and development across the Taiwan Straits," Wu said in a return message.

The communique was signed during a landmark visit to the mainland by the then KMT chairman Lien Chan, after his meeting with Hu in Beijing.

Wu, 67, captured nearly 87 percent of the party's ballots against "lawmaker" Hong Hsiu-chu's 13 percent.

An incumbent KMT vice-chairman, Wu was elected chairman of the KMT on Saturday.

Wu, born in 1939, graduated from Taiwan-based Cheng-kung University, and had been the secretary-general of KMT's Central Committee, head of Taoyuan County and mayor of Taipei before he was elected the KMT vice-chairman in 2000.

Former KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou submitted his resignation on February 13 after he was indicted on charges of corruption.

Taiwan prosecutors said Ma diverted 11 million New Taiwan dollars ($330,000) from Taipei's special allowance funds to his private account during his tenure as mayor of Taipei.

(China Daily April 9, 2007)