Cross-Straits trade down 6.7% in first quarter

BEIJING - Trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in first three months totaled $35.12 billion, down 6.7 percent from the same period last year, according to latest figures from the Ministry of Commerce.

The volume accounted for around 4.1 percent of the mainland's external trade for the same period.

The Chinese mainland's exports to Taiwan from January to March were worth $7.37 billion, down 8.6 percent year-on-year, while its imports from the island stood at $27.75 billion, a 6.1-percent decrease year-on-year.

Cross-Straits trade in March was worth $13.82 billion, up 20.6 percent from the previous month.

During the first quarter, the Chinese mainland approved 510 investment projects from Taiwanese businessmen, down 11.92 percent year-on-year, and reported an actual use of $750 million in Taiwanese investments year-on-year.

As of end of March 2012, the Chinese mainland had approved 86,282 investment projects from Taiwanese businessmen, and reported an actual use of $54.95 billion in Taiwanese investments, which accounted for 4.6 percent of the total investments the mainland attracted from outside.