Hu, Xi reply to messages from Taiwan's James Soong

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- James CY Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan, on Thursday sent separate messages to President Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, the newly elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Soong spoke highly of Hu's contributions to improving relations across the Taiwan Strait. In his message to Xi, Soong congratulated Xi on his election as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Hu and Xi expressed their gratitude in their replies.