Chinese mainland imported 456,000 tons of agricultural products worth US$540 million from Taiwan between 2005 to April 2008, a Chinese mainland official said on Friday.

From 2005 to April 2008, the mainland imported 8,066 tons of fruits worth US$1.14 million, with 13.48 million yuan (US$1.95 million) in tax exempted, said Yang Yi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

In the meantime, the mainland imported 660 tons of vegetables and aquatic products worth 310,000 yuan, with 260,000 yuan in tax exempted, he said.

Last year, trade volume between the two sides hit a new high of US$124.48 billion, up 15.4 percent year on year, of which mainland's export to Taiwan reached US$23.46 billion, up 13.1 percent and mainland's import from Taiwan reached US$101.02 billion, up 16 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2008)