Ma Ying-jeou, newly elected chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) Party, promised on Sunday that he would work to promote exchanges between the KMT and the Communist Party of China (CPC) for peace, prosperity and development across the Taiwan Straits.

"I hope that both the KMT and CPC will work together for the benefits of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, based on the consensus reached between Lien Chan and Hu Jintao on April 29," said Ma.

Ma made the remarks in a message to Hu, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, on Sunday afternoon that thanked him for his congratulations on Ma's electoral victory.

Hu had said in an earlier letter, "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."

Ma, incumbent KMT vice chairman and Taipei Mayor, was elected to lead the KMT on Saturday.

He defeated Wang Jyn-pyng, another KMT vice chairman, winning 72 percent of the vote to take over as party chief from retiring Chairman Lien.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2005)