BEIJING - Trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in the first quarter totaled $51.44 billion, up 46.5 percent from the same period last year, a mainland spokesman said Wednesday.

Citing official figures, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Yang Yi said at a regular press conference that the first three months witnessed significant progress in mainland-Taiwan economic cooperation and personnel exchanges.

The value of mainland exports to Taiwan from January to March totaled $9.73 billion, up 32 percent year on year, Yang said.

During the same period, mainland imports from the island stood at $41.71 billion, up 50.3 percent year on year.

Yang said the mainland approved 442 investment projects with financing from Taiwan businessmen and reported actual use of $760 million in Taiwan investment.

Eight mainland firms were given permission by mainland authorities to invest in Taiwan, with their investment totaling $2.94 million.

He said the first quarter saw nearly 1.92 million cross-Straits trips made by people from both sides, up 5.07 percent year on year.

The number of visits made by mainlanders to Taiwan was 531,000, up 23.25 percent from the same period last year. Of the trips, the majority were made as part of tour group visits, while the remaining 91,500 were made by individual tourists, registering an increase of more than 227 percent year on year.

He said common understanding was reached during an April 25 meeting held in Beijing between the mainland-based Association for Shipping Exchanges across the Taiwan Straits and its Taiwan counterpart.