Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, extended congratulations Saturday to James CY Soong, who was reelected chairman of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan yesterday.  

"I sincerely hope that the PFP and the CPC, together with compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, will make concerted efforts to maintain peace and stability in areas across the Taiwan Straits, continue to promote the development of cross-Straits relations, and commit ourselves to rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Hu said in a congratulatory message to the PFP Central Committee and Soong.

Taiwan media reported that Soong won an overwhelming majority of votes by 99.19 percent in the election, which lasted from June 22 to July 15.

Soong founded the PFP on March 31, 2000.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2005)