CRI听力:Mainland Hopes New Kuomintang Chairman Will Promote Cross-strait Ties

Chinese mainland officials say they're hoping to maintain their relationship with the ruling party in Taiwan.

The comments come as the Kuomintang prepares to elect a new party chair this coming weekend.

Ma Xiaoguang is with the mainland's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

"We hope that after the successful election of the new Kuomintang chair, the two sides can consolidate our political foundations, continue our positive interaction and make strong attempts to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties."

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou stepped down as chair of the KMT last month, after his party took heavy losses in local election.

Ma Ying-jeou is remaining on as Taiwan leader.

The mainland and Taiwan have maintained an increasingly strong connection since the re-election of the Kuomintang in 2008.

The latest figures show cross-strait trade this past year came in at just under 200-billion US dollars, an increase of around 0.6-percent on an annualized basis.

Over three-quarters of the trade are exports from Taiwan to the mainland.