BEIJING -- The mainland is ready to help address freshwater shortages in Kinmen, an outlying island of Taiwan, the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman said Wednesday.

At a weekly press conference, Yang Yi said, "If the Taiwan side agrees, the coastal regions in Fujian Province can provide freshwater to Kinmen anytime."

He made the comments after being asked about a Taiwanese media report that said Kinmen plans to purchase freshwater from the mainland.

Freshwater shortages are common on Kinmen island.

"We embrace an optimistic attitude towards any proposal good for welfare of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Yang said.