Passengers check in their luggage as some screens above the counters are seen displaying "direct flights between Taiwan and Fuzhou resume", at the Fuzhou Changle International Airport in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian province, May 22, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - A mainland official on Thursday stressed promoting connectivity wherever necessary and advancing the integrated development of Fujian province and Taiwan.

Institutional guarantee and preferential policies will be provided for the comprehensive integration of Taiwan enterprises in Fujian, and advancing integration between key areas such as Xiamen and Kinmen, as well as Fuzhou and Matsu, said Pan Xianzhang, vice-director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at a press conference.

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The implementation of the circular on supporting making Fujian a demonstration zone for cross-Straits integrated development will guarantee a highly familiar and friendly environment for Taiwan compatriots to study, work, invest and live there, thus ensuring their sense of participation, gain, happiness and security, he said.

Cong Liang, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, also attended the press conference on Thursday.

Pan Xianzhang, vice-director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference in Beijing, Sept 14, 2023. The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued a circular on Tuesday, announcing the decision to make Fujian province a demonstration zone for the integrated development across the Taiwan Straits. (PHOTO / STATE COUNCIL INFORMATION OFFICE, CHINA)

High-speed transport passage

Speaking about the construction of a high-speed passage between Fujian province and Taiwan, Cong said the technical capabilities for the project are already in place. 

He called for joint efforts to realize the shared dream of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to travel across the Straits on high-speed trains as soon as possible.

Cong added that goods from Taiwan will also be able to reach the Eurasian market via the China-Europe Railway Express and other transportation means once cross-Straits infrastructure connectivity is ready.

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In recent years, relevant departments have vigorously promoted the planning and construction of traffic infrastructure in Fujian, and an integrated multidimensional transportation network has been built in the province, making it technically possible to build a high-speed transport passage linking the province with Taiwan, Cong said.

This has provided a solid foundation for advancing infrastructure connectivity across the Straits, he added.

Cong Liang, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, attends a press conference in Beijing, Sept 14, 2023. (PHOTO / STATE COUNCIL INFORMATION OFFICE, CHINA)

Energy cooperation

Cong also highlighted the cross-Straits energy cooperation, saying that the mainland already has the conditions required to deliver green electricity to Taiwan on a large scale.

The scale of hydropower, wind power and photovoltaic power generation in the mainland has ranked first in the world for many years, while the mainland also has the world's most advanced wind and photovoltaic power production capacity and long-distance power transmission and transformation capacity, said Cong.

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In particular, clean energy is developing rapidly in Fujian province, he said, noting that the shoals of the outer beaches of southern Fujian are suitable for the development of offshore wind power, and have the conditions necessary for large-scale transmission of green electricity to Taiwan.

The mainland is willing to strengthen energy cooperation between both sides and jointly promote green energy transition with Taiwan, he added.