A Chinese mainland spokeswoman said that the authorities aim to open more marine routes to Taiwan.

Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference on Nov 27 that "according to a cross-Straits sea transportation agreement, we are supportive of increasing marine passenger routes and enhancing the capacity of passenger liners in order to provide better service for passengers."

She also said that a total of nine cross-Straits marine routes are currently in operation, which resulted in the transfer of 1.66 million of passengers in 2012.

Fan added that more than 40,000 cross-Straits passengers have travelled on 23 cruise liners in 2013.

Pingtan, as the closest point to Taiwan on the Chinese mainland, is a leader in the development of cross-Straits marine traffic, and Haixia - the world's fastest passenger ship of its kind, with a maximum speed of 96 nautical mph and a capacity of 782 passengers - runs on two routes, from Pingtan to Taichung and Taipei, every week.

Since its launch in November 2011, Haixia has transported more than 150,000 passengers across the Taiwan Straits.

Fan said that the Chinese mainland will also strive to expand cooperation in the field of air transport with Taiwan.

She also said that the Chinese mainland civil aircraft department aims to increase the number of cross-Straits flights during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday season in 2014 so as to meet the demand from both sides.

"Civil aircraft authorities across the Straits are in negotiations, and the decision will soon be announced," she added.

Xinhua contributed to this story

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman