Chinese mainland-Taiwan trade hits record high in H1

Trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan reached 68.01 billion USD in the first half of 2008, up 23.0% year-on-year, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Commerce on July 23.

In the first half of 2008, Chinese mainland exports to Taiwan were 13.08 billion USD, increasing by 18.9%; and the imports from Taiwan totaled 54.93 billion USD, growing 24.0%.

Currently, Taiwan is the Chinese mainland's seventh largest trade partner, the ninth largest export market for the Chinese mainland and the fifth largest import source for the Chinese mainland.

From January to June this year, the Chinese mainland has approved 1,193 investment projects from Taiwan, decreasing 31.8% from the same period of last year. The actual use of Taiwan investment reached 1 billion USD, increasing by 19.9% year-on-year.

As of the end of June, the Chinese mainland had approved 76,339 Taiwan-funded projects in total; and the actual use of Taiwan investment amounted to 46.76 billion USD.

Taiwan's investment accounts for 5.7% of all non-Chinese mainland investment, and is the fourth investment source for the Chinese mainland.

The improvement of political ties between the two sides of Taiwan Strait contributes to the development of trade.