President Hu Jintao has called on Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to realize the wishes of Sun Yat-sen and strive for unification of the country.

He stressed his strong opposition to "Taiwan independence" in a speech at the Great Hall of the People Sunday to mark the 140th anniversary of the birth of Sun, one of the forefathers of modern China.

Sun once said that "unification is the hope of all Chinese. Chinese will benefit if the country is unified. The people will be harmed if the country is separate."

"Reviewing his words, we feel the great significance of China's unification," Hu said.

True unification of the homeland conforms with the basic interests of the Chinese nation. It is also the wish and responsibility of all Chinese to work for unification, he said.

Born in 1866 in Xiangshan County in South China's Guangdong Province, Sun was leader of 1911 revolution to overthrow China's last feudalistic dynasty, the Qing (1644-1911). He died of illness in Beijing in 1925.

Hu said the country would forever remember the historic achievements made by Sun in terms of the country's independence, social advancement and the people's welfare.

A series of activities were held yesterday in Beijing to mark the 140th anniversary.

He Luli and Zhou Tienong, chairperson and executive vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, went to the tomb containing the personal effects of Sun at Biyun Temple in the Fragrant Hills in Beijing.

In Shanghai, a museum showcasing the personal belongings of Sun Yat-sen opened to visitors yesterday.

With an exhibition space of over 700 square metres, the museum houses more than 300 items left by Sun, including historical documents, manuscripts and a sword.

Most of the exhibits are on show for the first time, said Sun Juanjuan, curator of the museum.

The museum building was part of Sun's European-style residence in Shanghai.

In Guangzhou, China's State Post Bureau issued a set of commemorative stamps yesterday to mark the anniversary.

Also yesterday, Hong Kong issued a set of four stamps with designs featuring images of Sun from different periods of his life.

A series of activities including gatherings, publications and symposiums have been held across the country in recent days to celebrate his birth.