Chinese mainland witnessed a fast development in trade with Taiwan province in the first two months of this year, as a string of policies benefiting Taiwan businesses were carried out.

Sources with the General Administration of Customs said on Friday that the January-February trade volume between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits amounted to $20.5 billion, a growth of 23.8 percent on the same period of last year. The growth rate was 8.4 percentage points higher than the year-earlier level.

The total included $3.6 billion in export value by the mainland, up 12 percent, and $16.93 billion in import value, up 26.6 percent. The mainland's trade deficit went up 31.2 percent to $13.33 billion.

Companies with investment from outside the Chinese mainland, particularly those with investment from Taiwan, accounted for 75.9 percent, or $15.59 billion, of the mainland's total trade volume with Taiwan, up 20.2 percent.

Machinery and electronics made up 66.2 percent, or $13.58 billion, of the total bilateral trade, up 20.9 percent. The growth rate was 11.8 percentage points higher.

Besides the traditional trade participants -- the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta, central and western regions of the mainland recorded $380 million and $280 million, respectively, in trade with Taiwan, up 51.9 percent and 45.4 percent.