KINMEN -- The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun called on both sides across the Strait Sunday to continue to boost peaceful development of ties, maintain peace and stability and oppose any secessionist forces as he concluded a two-day visit to Kinmen, a Taiwan's islet.
"Don't wait until the streetlamps go out to sense their existence, and don't wait until peace has been lost to realize its value," said Zhang, stressing that the cross-Strait peaceful development is hard-won and should be valued.
Zhang visited Kinmen's Tianpu Reservoir Sunday, which is the destination of a planned 16.9-kilometer offshore water supply pipeline from a major river, Jinjiang, in Fujian Province on the mainland.
Kinmen plans to take 15,000 tonnes of water a year at the early stage, which could increase to 34,000 tonnes later, in order to ease its water shortage.
The project is one of the major issues discussed during Saturday's meeting between Zhang and Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Andrew Hsia. The two sides agreed to facilitate the inking of a water supply contract between Fujian Province and Kinmen and the early start of related construction.
At the reservoir, Zhang expressed his hope that related departments could make joint efforts to complete the project on schedule so as to ensure people in Kinmen can drink the mainland water as soon as possible.
"Don't politicize issues concerning people's livelihood," Zhang said, stressing that the water is not "political water."
"Compatriots from both sides of the Strait have longed for a stable, peaceful and happy life," Zhang said, adding that both mainland and Taiwan authorities should attach great importance to people's livelihood and strive to realize their aspirations.
During Sunday's visit, Zhang also went to a brewery, a sugar company and a blade factory, and spoke to representatives from all walks of life.
The two sides have been walking along the path of peaceful development for seven years and have fully enjoyed the dividends brought about by the path, Zhang said.
"Although there will remain twists and turns in the future, past experience and future prospects will increase our faith and willpower to continue along this path," he said.
