Trade between China's mainland and Taiwan reached US$89.69 billion in the first nine months, up 13.8 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The mainland's exports to and imports from Taiwan were both up by 13.8 percent, to reach US$17.19 billion and US$72.5 billion, respectively. The mainland had a deficit of US$55.31 billion in the cross-Straits trade.

In the same period, the mainland approved 2,480 Taiwanese-funded projects, down by 7.1 percent year-on-year, while actual use of Taiwan investment decreased by 25.1 percent to US$1.14 billion.

By the end of September, the mainland had received US$45.04 billion in direct investment by Taiwan's business people, accounting for 6.2 percent of the total overseas investment in the mainland.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2007)