BEIJING -- The mainland will promote peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, deepen exchanges and cooperation in all areas, and expand interactions across the Strait, said President Hu Jintao on Friday.

"We should join hands in opposing and checking separatist activities for Taiwan independence and work for the happiness of compatriots on both sides of the Strait and the future of the Chinese nation," said Hu, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a grand gathering marking the 90th anniversary of the CPC in Beijing.