CPC delegation visits Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain

A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) paid visits to Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain from September 18 to 26 to boost exchanges and cooperation between China and the three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

The delegation was led by Li Mingxiang, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

During its stay in the three countries, the CPC delegation held meetings respectively with local government officials, members of friendship associations, and scholars of think tanks.

The Qatari, Kuwaiti and Bahraini sides all expressed readiness to deepen strategic communication and push forward their respective ties with China.

U.S. economic activity rose slightly in most districts, with three regions reporting no changes and one region experiencing a moderate decline, the U.S. Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book released on Thursday.

This indicates an improvement compared to the last three reporting periods, during which most regions reported little change in economic activity, according to the Beige Book.

It shows that the outlook for future activity is mildly optimistic, with most expecting slight to modest growth in the coming months.

Most banks reported that the consumer spending went up slightly over the holiday season, buoyed by strong spending from higher-income consumers. Employment was mostly unchanged in the most recent period, with eight of the twelve districts reporting no changes in hiring. Prices grew at a moderate rate across a large majority of districts, with only two districts reporting slight price growth, the survey said.

Cost pressures resulting from tariffs were a consistent theme across all districts, it said.

The Beige Book, officially known as the Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District, is a survey on economic conditions based on information collected from its 12 regional reserve banks. It is published eight times per year.