Zhang Zhijun (2nd L), director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, receives a steel knife presented by a local entrepreneur in Kinmen, southeast Taiwan, on May 24, 2015. Zhang arrived on the island of Kinmen, which is two kilometers from the coastal mainland city of Xiamen, on Saturday for a two-day visit. (Photo: Xinhua/Cai Yang)
Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun has made a visit to the Taiwan islet of Kinmen just off the coast of Fujian.
Zhang Zhijun has toured a reservior on the islet which is part of a water-supply project linking the island with the mainland.
"Our previous efforts will be in vain if the project is not built quickly. I believe relevant departments on both sides need to work more closely together to get the project finished on-schedule so people in Kinmen can use mainland water as soon as possible."
The project is one of the major issues discussed as part of a meeting between Zhang Zhijun and Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Andrew Hsia on Kinmen.
Kinmen County Magistrate Chen Fuhai says the joint project is critical for the island.
"Water and electricity are important to the development of Kinmen. Kinmen has had a shortage of water for a long time. Thanks to efforts by both sides, there is now policy support which should help see the project completed in a year and a half."
Kinmen, lying just a couple of kilometers off the coast of Fujian, is home to around 125,000 people.
