The Chinese mainland's purchasing groups to Taiwan have notched up deals worth more than 10 billion U.S. dollars since the mainland pledged in mid-May it would encourage companies to buy more of the island's products, a mainland official said Wednesday.

Three major mainland buying delegations to Taiwan have signed deals worth 5.476 billion U.S. dollars since the end of May, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Yang Yi said at a press conference.

The delegations, organized by the Mainland Association for Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Exchanges, included more than 300 representatives of over 160 companies, including IT and home appliance giants Lenovo and TCL, and SinoSteel Corporation, according to Yang.

The deals involve products ranging from agricultural and chemical products to computer and mobile phone equipment.

The mainland announced in mid-May it would encourage companies to buy more Taiwan products as a move to enhance cooperation between companies across the Taiwan Strait amid the economic downturn.

Yang said mainland buying groups were well received by their Taiwan counterparts. They played a positive role in promoting cross-Strait economic exchanges and cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2009)