Cross-Strait trade, Taiwan investment on mainland keep growing

Trade between both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan investment on the mainland maintained growth this year, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference.

Cross-Strait trade volume from January to August totaled 158.93 billion U.S. dollars, up 10 percent year on year, Ma said, citing the General Administration of Customs figures.

Mainland exports to Taiwan were 37.73 billion dollars, up 8.11 percent year on year, while mainland imports from Taiwan reached 121.2 billion dollars, up 10.6 percent year on year.

Ma noted that in August, Taiwan's exports to the mainland and Hong Kong accounted for 46.39 percent of the island's total export volume, a record high.

Many major Taiwan-funded projects on the mainland have started production or seen increased capital and production, involving the electronics and information, petrochemical, cement, and other industries, according to the spokesperson.

Statistics from Taiwan also showed that during the period from January to July, Taiwan investment on the mainland increased by more than 50 percent year on year, he noted.