Opening-up, cooperation top priority for island

The bridge began construction in November of 2007, with the total investment worth more than 1.1 billion yuan ($159.7 million), and opened to traffic three years later, becoming the first cross-sea bridge in Fujian.

In February 2010, the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone was officially set up and since then, the region's opening-up and development have accelerated. Its transportation infrastructure construction has also advanced greatly and construction of a cross-sea highway-railway bridge has been expedited.

Weng said he expected the rail bridge, which began construction in November 2013, will be completed in late October 2019.

"Pingtan's transportation is now so convenient, and I dared not imagine that. I bought a car recently and for my leisure I take a drive with my family," Weng said.

Pingtan has become a window to the outside world, local officials said. The Pingtan Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone has taken 140 innovation measures to boost investment, trade, finance and personnel exchanges.

Pingtan hosted the first China-Island Countries Ocean-related Ministerial Roundtable in September last year and signed six international industry cooperation projects with a total investment of more than $1.18 billion. It has started a rail-sea combined transportation service connecting Taiwan and Pingtan with Europe and opened two air routes to Hong Kong.

Recently, an implementation plan for furthering the reform and opening-up of the Pingtan Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone was released.

It also involves new arrangements for expanding cross-Straits economic and cultural communications and cooperation. According to the plan, Pingtan will further benchmark against international rules to establish a new system for opening up the economy and improving the government's administration. It will also use its geographic advantage of being near Taiwan and deepen industry cooperation with Taiwan, as well as countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.