Trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan reached 31.44 billion U.S. dollars in the first three months of the year, up about 73 percent year on year, according to a Ministry of Commerce report.

The figure included 6.01 billion U.S. dollars of Chinese mainland export to Taiwan, up 60 percent year on year, and 25.43 billion U.S. dollars of mainland imports from the island, an increase of 76 percent, according to the report posted on the ministry's website.

From January to March, the Chinese mainland approved 595 projects with investment from Taiwan, and recorded an inflow of 580 million U.S. dollars of investment from Taiwan.

The Chinese mainland is Taiwan's largest export market.

Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland's trade volume with Hong Kong from January to March this year rose by 29.1 percent compared with the same period last year to hit 43.68 billion U.S. dollars, according to the report.