The Chinese mainland plans to import high-quality fruit from Taiwan during the Beijing Olympics, said a spokesman with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday.

"In the past two years, the Chinese mainland has taken several measures to help Taiwan fruit and vegetable farmers increase their sales in the mainland, which is much appreciated by Taiwan farmers," Yang Yi, the spokesman, said.

"Since last year, Taiwan fruit producers have showed a keen interest in participating in the Beijing Olympics' fruit supply, and they are eager to set up fruit marketing channels with the Chinese mainland," said Yang.

Detailed plans are being discussed between a Beijing fruit distributor and Taiwan farming organizations and enterprises, said Yang.

By November last year, agriculture investment from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland reached US$6.7 billion. Last year, Taiwan exported US$187 million worth of agricultural products to the Chinese mainland, a year-on-year increase of 23 percent.

Of that total, products with a zero tariff reached 3,143 tons valued at US$4.33 million, saving 4.86 million yuan for Taiwan fruit producers.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2008)