Trade between the mainland and Taiwan rose by 33 per cent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2002 to US$23.5bn, China Daily said, reporting Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation figures. The total for the year is forecast to reach US$40bn, up from US$32.3bn in 2001. According to the ministry, the mainland is now Taiwan's biggest export market, while the island is the mainland's fourth largest trading partner.
The ministry also said that Taiwan's actual foreign direct investment on the mainland had risen 28 per cent year-on-year between January and July this year to US$2.1bn, and that 2,700 Taiwan-funded companies had been set up in the seven-month period.