Trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan totaled 81.91 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of the year, up 55.9 percent year on year, a mainland Taiwan affairs official said? Wednesday.

Sun Yafu, vice director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said cross-Strait economic, cultural and people-to-people exchange has hit a level unparalleled for 60 years.

From January to July, the Chinese mainland approved more than 1,600 Taiwan investment projects worth 1.42 billion U.S. dollars, a nearly 42 percent year-on-year increase, according to the official.

More than 50 mainland enterprises have invested 133 million U.S. dollars in Taiwan since July last year, he said.

Amid warming ties, in December 2008, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan began direct air, sea and postal services.

The move greatly shortened cross-Strait travel times and boosted the efficiency of cross-Strait trade.

So far, 37 airports on the mainland and Taiwan operate 370 regular flights across the Strait every week.