Home>News Center>China
       
 

Ma Ying-jeou seeks chairmanship of KMT
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-03 16:34

Taipei's popular mayor Ma Ying-jeou announced his bid for the leadership of Nationalist Party on Sunday.


Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou cheers the audience as he formally announces his bid for the leadership of Nationalist Party on Sunday. [sina]

Ma Ying-jeou was cheered by about 3,000 supporters as he promised to reform the 109-year-old Nationalist Party.

The opposition hopes the handsome, articulate and savvy Ma will pump new life into the Nationalists.

"We need to stabilize relations with the Chinese Mainland because they affect our economy, our foreign and domestic policies," the 54-year-old Ma told supporters.

The Nationalists' 1 million members will elect a new chairman in May. Their current leader, Lien Chan, has said he will retire.

Ma pledged to seek reunification with China.

"I solemnly declare that Taiwan independence will never be an option for Taiwan," Ma said.

"As long as Taiwan does not push for independence ... we can push to sign a midterm agreement for 50 years of peace and economic cooperation," he said.

Most of Ma's support is in northern Taiwan, and he has sought to bolster his appeal by reaching out to voters in the rural south.

Ma will run in the party chairman election against the legislature's speaker, Wang Jin-pyng, a politician from the south who is popular with lawmakers.



 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

'Murdered' wife lives, proves husband's innocence

 

   
 

Ma Ying-jeou seeks chairmanship of KMT

 

   
 

Guessing game in battle for papal succession

 

   
 

Gov't urges increased mine safety spending

 

   
 

Vice-governor gets 12 years for taking bribes

 

   
 

Kuwait seeks strong oil ties with China

 

   
  Ma Ying-jeou seeks chairmanship of KMT
   
  China's giant panda protection goes digital
   
  Fund earmarked to bar salary defaults to migrant workers
   
  Poor governance blamed for securities market
   
  Beijing offers talks with Taiwan ruling party
   
  China bans poultry imports from N. Korea
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Beijing offers talks with Taiwan ruling party
   
KMT delegation's visit successful: CPC official
   
KMT "root-seeking" trip ice-breaking
   
Lien accepts invitation to visit mainland
  News Talk  
  It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008  
Advertisement