Trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan reached 43.91 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of this year, up 21.7 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Wednesday.

The mainland's exports to Taiwan reached 8.17 billion U.S. dollars and imports from the island reached 35.74 billion U.S. dollars, up 16.9 percent and 22.8 percent, respectively. the MOC's figures showed.

During the same period, the mainland attracted investment from Taiwan in 731 projects, down 36.9 percent, while the actual use ofT aiwan investment reached 650 million U.S. dollars, up 29.6 percent.

As of the end of April 2008, cumulative investment from Taiwan in the mainland totaled 46.41 billion U.S. dollars in 75,877 projects. The figures date back to 1988, when mainland-Taiwan trade opened up.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)