Taiwan President Ma retakes helm of ruling party

Oct 17, 2009, 7:32 GMT

   Taipei - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday re-took the helm of the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT) and vowed to unite the party and seek peace with China.

   Ma was sworn in as the chairman of the KMT at the party's 18th National Congress held at the Shingchuang Stadium near Taipei.

   Ma resigned as KMT chairman in February 2007 after he was indicted for misusing government funds while he was Taipei mayor. He was acquitted, and won the presidential election in March 2008.

   He vowed to reform the 100-year-old KMT, which was founded in China, and pledged to push for peace with Beijing while safeguarding Taiwan's national sovereignty and dignity.

   Since taking office, he has reduced cross-strait tensions by seeking peace with China while putting aside political disputes.

   Taipei and Beijing have held three rounds of dialogues and signed nine pacts on opening sea, air, tourism and postal links and on financial cooperation and food safety.

On Saturday, the Chinese Communist Party sent its congratulations to Ma. It expressed hope that the two parties could adhere to the '1992 consensus,' denounce Taiwan independence, promote cooperation and 'strive for the beautiful future for all Chinese.'

Beijing claims there is one China and Taiwan belongs to it. But Taipei maintains there was one China before 1949, but since the civil war it has been split into two parts ruled by different governments.