An aerial photo of Longhu Lake in Fujian province, the source for the water being sent from Fujian to Jinmen. [Photo by Lin Shanchuan/Xinhua]

The mainland coastal province of Fujian has supplied water stably and safely to the island of Jinmen in Taiwan for more than a year, alleviating the water shortage that Jinmen had faced for a long time.

On Aug 5 last year, a water pipeline connecting the two places officially went into operation and has so far delivered nearly 3.9 million metric tons of water to Jinmen, according to Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Ma said on Aug 23 that over the past year, the water supplier from the Chinese mainland has delivered the water and guaranteed the water quality and quantity, which helped solve the water difficulty of local residents of Jinmen.

"In the history of the development of cross-Straits relations, supplying water to Jinmen will be a good story in bonding the compatriots on both sides of the Straits and a vivid demonstration of how preferential policy benefits Taiwan compatriots," he said.

The mainland will continue to strive for more economic and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, promote wider connectivity and continue to introduce more preferential policies that carry a concept of "two sides, one family", Ma said.

"Taiwan and the well-being of Taiwan residents will become better when the cross-Straits relations are good," he said.

Ma said the mainland will continue to unite Taiwan compatriots, firmly safeguard the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and resolutely oppose and restrain "Taiwan independence" separatist activities.