BEIJING -- Taiwan's investment in agricultural experiment zones and agricultural business parks in the Chinese mainland has reached six billion U.S. dollars, a Chinese official said Monday.

There are more than 5,000 Taiwan agricultural enterprises running businesses in these parks and zones, said Bi Meijia, chief economist and spokesman for the Agriculture Ministry.

Taiwan's agricultural investment in the mainland is expanding to the vast central and western regions from the coast, said Bi at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the 12th National People's Congress.

The areas in which Taiwan is investing is also expanding from fruits and vegetables to cotton, cows, sheep and the processing industry, he added.

The potential for cross-Strait agricultural cooperation is huge as the mainland has lower labor costs while Taiwan has advantages in technology and capital.