Cross-Straits trade volume climbs

Trade volume between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan reached $197.2 billion last year amid closer cross-Straits ties, a year-on-year increase of 16.7 percent, a mainland spokesman said on Wednesday.

Mainland authorities approved 1,804 projects for Taiwan investors in 2013, with $1.89 billion in investment from the island, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Fifty mainland companies invested $117 million in Taiwan last year, Ma said at a news conference.