Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, has sent a rare cable to his Taiwanese counterpart, congratulating him over his election as head of the country's ruling Nationalist party.

Ma Ying-jeou won the party election on Sunday.

Hu's message and Ma's response, marked the first time Chinese and Taiwanese leaders directly exchanged cables amid warming ties since the two sides split 60 years ago.

The historic communication saw the leaders asking each other to continue the promotion of peaceful cross-strait developments.

Ma, who has pushed aggressively for closer business ties with China, will assume the office in September, replacing incumbent Wu Poh-hsiung.

Bolstering ties

According to a Nationalist party statement, Hu asked Ma in his message to help bolster mutual trust between the two sides.

Ma responded by calling for peace and stability across the straits, the statement said.

Hu Jintao's message is the first direct contact with a Taiwanese leader in 60 years [EPA]

Ma was elected president in May 2008 on pledges to improve the island's economy by opening more trade channels with China, a global economic powerhouse, and ease tensions with Beijing.

Under Ma, the two sides have resumed high-level dialogues and facilitated closer trade relations including Taiwan's move to allow Chinese companies to invest on the island.

Taiwan and China split amid a civil war in 1949, but Beijing continues to claim the self-ruled island as part of its territory.

Taiwanese newspapers have speculated that Ma and Hu may be planning a historic summit in their capacities as party leaders, although Ma has downplayed the need and likelihood of such a meeting.

"Ma will undoubtedly become the power centre," said Raymond Wu, a political risk consultant in Taipei.

"As chair of the ruling party, he can streamline the process of decision-making, especially for cross-Strait relations [with China]."