Mainland hails progress in connectivity projects among Fujian, Kinmen and Matsu

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported progress in promoting infrastructure connectivity projects involving water supplies, electricity, gas and building bridges from coastal areas in Fujian province to Kinmen and Matsu in Taiwan.

The residents in Kinmen and Matsu have long hoped the mainland would help solve their water and electricity shortages and have repeatedly expressed their desire for access to gas supplies and getting connected with the mainland by bridges, said An Fengshan, a spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

"In response to these needs, the mainland is willing to make every effort to create opportunities and provide conditions for them to achieve greater and better development," An said.

In August last year, Fujian, a mainland coastal province, started to supply water to Kinmen, a small island close to the mainland. So far, more than three million tonnes of water has been sent to Kinmen.

An said related mainland authorities and Fujian province have been doing all that they can to push forward related infrastructure connectivity projects and have made phased progress.

The mainland will continue to study and introduce new measures to deepen integrated cross-Straits economic and social development, An noted.

"We hope that people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits will make joint efforts to remove obstacles, promote connectivity wherever necessary and continuously improve the interests and well-being of our compatriots," he added.