Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 23, 2004
Fujian-Taiwan trade reports minor increase in 2003
The eastern province of Fujian, opposite Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, registered a rapid increase in exports to Taiwan in 2003, while the total trade volume between the two sides grew slowly from a year earlier.
The eastern province of Fujian, opposite Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, registered a rapid increase in exports to Taiwan in 2003, while the total trade volume between the two sides grew slowly from a year earlier.
The trade volume between Fujian and Taiwan totaled 3.57 billionUS dollars last year, or up 6.5 percent from 2002, said the provincial trade authorities.
Fujian is a major mainland trader with the island province, andoperates the mainland's only direct shipping link with Taiwan, from Xiamen, the nearest mainland city to Taiwan, to Quemoy islandof Taiwan.
Fujian's imports from Taiwan totaled 3.05 billion US dollars last year, up 4.54 percent from 2002, and exports 519 million US dollars, up 19.78 percent.
The province recorded a trade deficit with Taiwan of 2.53 billion US dollars in 2003, up 1.89 percent from the previous year.
Over 80 percent of Taiwanese are descended from southern Fujianpeople, and they share the same culture and language as southern Fujian.