Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, congratulated Eric Chu on his election as chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang on Saturday.

Xi said in a message that he hoped the two parties, in the cardinal interest of the Chinese nation, can continue working together to maintain the common political commitments of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence".

In recent years, the CPC and KMT have advanced mainland-Taiwan relations toward peaceful development, which has resulted in benefits for the people of both sides and resulted in higher expectations for the future of cross-Straits ties, Xi said.

He said the two parties should strengthen communication and deepen mutual trust to continue the peaceful development of relations and collectively rejuvenate the Chinese nation.

In his reply to Xi's message, Chu expressed gratitude for Xi's congratulations, saying that the two parties had well interacted and consolidated mutual trust over the past six years on the basis of the 1992 Consensus. Chu said he expects the two parties will continue to expand exchanges, strive for mutual benefits and promote peace and prosperity across the Taiwan-Straits.

Chu, mayor of Taiwan's New Taipei City, was elected chairman of the Kuomintang in an uncontested vote on Saturday.

About 56 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast their ballots and Chu won 196,065 valid votes, or 99.61 percent of the total, according to the KMT Central Committee.

Chu will take office as chairman on Monday.

Former KMT leader Ma Ying-jeou stepped down as chairman on Dec 3, handing over the reins to the party's first vice-chairman, Wu Den-yih. According to the party's charter, the interim chief is tasked with organizing a new election for a replacement to serve out the predecessor's remaining term within three months of a chairmanship vacancy.

(China Daily 01/19/2015 page3)