BEIJING, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 Taiwan compatriots met in Beijing Tuesday at a gathering to celebrate the up-coming Mid-Autumn Festival.

The gathering was jointly held by the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League and the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.

Zheng Ping, vice head of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, stressed in his speech that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the bond of kinship. He added that it is in the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides of the Strait to promote cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and step up integrated development.

So long as compatriots on both sides of the Strait overcome obstacles and forge ahead hand in hand, the path of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations will become wider, and the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland will be more smooth, Zheng said.

At the gathering, compatriots, business people and students from Taiwan joined together and sang "My Motherland and I."

Wu Guohua, vice chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, presided over the gathering.