BEIJING -- Trade between both sides of the cross-Straits and Taiwan investment on the Chinese mainland maintained growth this year, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference.

Cross-Straits trade volume from January to August totaled $158.93 billion, up 10 percent year on year, Ma said, citing the General Administration of Customs figures.

Chinese mainland exports to Taiwan region were $37.73 billion, up 8.11 percent year-on-year, while Chinese mainland imports from Taiwan region reached $121.2 billion, up 10.6 percent year-on-year.

Ma noted that in August, Taiwan's exports to the mainland and Hong Kong accounted for 46.39 percent of the island's total export volume, a record high.

Many major Taiwan-funded projects on the Chinese mainland have started production or seen increased capital and production, involving the electronics and information, petrochemical, cement, and other industries, according to the spokesperson.

Statistics from Taiwan region also showed that during the period from January to July, Taiwan investment on the mainland increased by more than 50 percent year-on-year, he noted.