TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Monday received a congratulatory message from his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao after being elected leader of the island's ruling Kuomintang, party officials said.

Outgoing KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung said party officials would reveal the contents of the brief message from Hu later in the day.

Analysts say Ma's election as party leader on Sunday could pave the way for a first meeting between the presidents of Taiwan and China.

Wu met China's Hu on the mainland last year in the highest-level contact since the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

Ma previously headed the party between July 2005 and February 2007, when he resigned after being indicted for allegedly misusing his expense funds as mayor of Taipei. He was cleared of the charges before taking office last year.

Ties with China have improved dramatically since Ma came to power, with the launch of regular direct flights and the development of closer trade links.

Beijing still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification by force if necessary although the island has governed itself since 1949.