Xi Jinping congratulates newly-elected KMT chairman   

中共中央总书记习近平电贺朱立伦当选中国国民党主席

Eric Chu (R) won 196,065 valid votes, or 99.61 percent of the votes, according to the KMT Central Committee. (Photo: China News Service)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Committee, has congratulated Eric Chu for being elected as chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party on Saturday.

Xi said in a message that he hoped the two parties, for 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 have resulted in benefits for the people of both sides and higher expectations for the future of cross-Strait ties, Xi said.

He said the two parties should strengthen communication and deepen mutual trust to carry on the peaceful development of the 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 on the basis of the 1992 Consensus over the past six years.

Chu said he expected the two parties would continue to expand exchanges, strive for mutual benefits and promote perpetual peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.

Chu, mayor of Taiwan's New Taipei City, was elected chairman of the Kuomintang in an uncontested election 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 votes, according to the KMT Central Committee.

Chu will take office as chairman next Monday.

The 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.