Trade between China and Taiwan surges 56% in first seven months of 2010

China State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office Vice Director, Sun Yafu, stated trade between mainland China and Taiwan surged 55.9% year-on-year to USD81.9 billion in the first seven months of 2010 (Xinhua, 16-Sep-2010). Mr Sun added China has approved more than 1,600 investment projects, worth USD1.4 billion, from Taiwan in the seven months ended 31-Jul-2010, an increase of 42%. Meanwhile, airlines from the mainland and Taiwan operate 370 scheduled cross-Strait weekly services.