Ma, who took over as president in May last year pledging to improve relations with rival China, used his inauguration address to promise to build even stronger ties with Beijing as the new ruling party chief.

"We will keep pushing for exchanges between the Kuomintang and (China) to improve mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides," Ma said.

Helping hands

Ma said that the assistance of Lien and Wu Po-hsiung will be essential for the party to overcome numerous challenges ahead.

Ma noted that under Wu's leadership that ran two years and eight months, the KMT sailed through its most difficult period and won the legislative and presidential elections, and he said he expects Wu to continue to help the party promote cooperation and exchanges with China.

Also, Ma said he hopes Lien, who has made a "journey of peace" to China and represented Taiwan in the leaders summit of the 2008 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru, will continue his contribution in these areas.

Ma stressed that the past era in which "the ruling party overrode the government" has long passed and that what prevails today is an era of "the party supporting the government."

Ma's predecessor, Wu Po-hsiung, met Chinese President and communist party leader Hu on the mainland last year in the highest level contact since the KMT fled to Taiwan in 1949 after a civil war.

The Chinese Communist Party, in a message to Ma, echoed his enthusiasm for improving ties, while reiterating its opposition to Taiwan seeking formal independence. Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory.

Chinese congratulations

"We look forward to the continuing realization of cross-strait peaceful developments by our two parties to deepen trust and promote exchanges ... on the basis of opposing Taiwan independence," it said.

Tensions with China have eased substantially since Ma took office last year, following eight-years of strained ties under the previous pro-independence government.

Yesterday's ceremony came 2 1/2 months after Nationalist members elected him to the job in the wake of incumbent Wu Poh-hsiung's agreement to step aside.

Since taking over the presidency 17 months ago, Ma has made improving relations with Beijing his first priority.

The KMT fled from China to Taiwan during civil war in 1949. China continues to claim Taiwan as its territory.

In carrying out his policies Ma has had to contend with a separate Nationalist channel for conducting negotiations with China's ruling Communists. That channel has sometimes pushed reconciliation faster than Ma liked.

Prior posting

Ma previously headed the KMT between 2005-07, when it was in opposition, but resigned after being indicted for allegedly misusing government funds. He was cleared of the charges before his inauguration.

Ma yesterday also vowed to eradicate vote-buying at the upcoming regional elections amid a string of bribery scandals plaguing his party, which led to three lawmakers being removed from office.

Observers said the scandals dealt a blow to the KMT and played a part in its defeat in a recent by-election, just three months before voters are to elect new regional government chiefs.