1st LD Writethru: Eric Chu takes office as KMT chairman

Taiwan's New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu took office as chairman of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) on Monday, underscoring cross-Strait peace in his inaugural speech.

Chu pledged to listen to grassroots voices and help keep the government's executive branch in step with its legislative branch to promote important policies anticipated by the public.

He also promised to recruit more young people in future elections and said he will work to end the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties.

On cross-Strait relations, Chu said during his speech that peaceful development and mutually beneficial principles have been adhered to by the KMT in promoting ties between Taiwan and the mainland.

However, the rapid development of cross-strait ties in recent years has had a big psychological effect on Taiwan society, and the two sides' increased economic and trade exchanges have also raised concerns of a widening wealth gap on the island, he said.

Chu added that the KMT will discuss these issues with the mainland in order to let cross-Strait ties proceed stably.

Chu was elected KMT chairman in an uncontested election on Saturday, after Ma Ying-jeou resigned as party chief to take responsibility for the KMT's defeat in the Nov. 29 local government elections.

Former mayors Hau Lung-bin and Huang Min-hui were named KMT's vice chairpersons. Lee Shih-chuan will become the party's secretary-general, the party said in a statement.

The new appointments are expected to be confirmed during a KMT standing committee meeting on Wednesday. Endi