BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Sunday extended congratulations to Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou on the latter's victory in the just-ended election of the chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT) in Taiwan.

    "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," said Hu in a congratulatory message to the KMT Central Committee and Ma in person.

    Ma, an incumbent KMT vice chairman and Taipei Mayor, was elected new chairman of the KMT on Saturday.

    Ma defeated his contender Wang Jyn-pyng, another KMT vice chairman, by winning 72.36 percent of votes in the Saturday election to take over as the party chief from retiring Chairman Lien Chan. Enditem