China's services trade saw rapid growth from January to October this year, with a steep increase in the trade of travel-related services, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed on Wednesday.
In the first 10 months, China's total trade in services reached almost 6.13 trillion yuan (about 843.07 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 14.6 percent.
Specifically, services exports hit over 2.54 trillion yuan (about 350.26 billion U.S. dollars), up by 16.6 percent, and services imports exceeded 3.58 trillion yuan (about 492.81 billion U.S. dollars), up by 13.2 percent, resulting in a deficit of nearly 1.04 trillion yuan (about 142.55 billion U.S. dollars).
According to the ministry, trade in knowledge-intensive services continued to grow in the first 10 months.
From January to October, the import and export volumes of knowledge-intensive services surpassed 2.36 trillion yuan (about 325.03 billion U.S. dollars), increasing by 5.9 percent.
Among these, the export of knowledge-intensive services was over 1.34 trillion yuan (about 184.66 billion U.S. dollars), growing by 5.7 percent. Personal, cultural, and entertainment services, as well as telecommunications, computer, and information services, showed significant growth of 38.7 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively.
The import of knowledge-intensive services totaled 1.02 trillion yuan (about 140.37 billion U.S. dollars), growing by 6.1 percent. Personal, cultural, and entertainment services, along with other business services, showed rapid growth of 34.2 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively.
Trade in travel-related services skyrocketed 41.2 percent to surpass 1.67 trillion yuan (about 229.97 billion U.S. dollars), making it the largest sector in services trade.
China's services trade surges 14.6 pct in Jan-Oct with tourism boom
China's services trade surges 14.6 pct in Jan-Oct with tourism boom
China's services trade surges 14.6 pct in Jan-Oct with tourism boom
More than 3,200 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip from various crossings since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday.
The ceasefire agreement initiates six weeks of calm, raising hopes for an end to 15 months of Israeli assaults on Gaza that devastated the enclave and for the release of dozens of hostages held there.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that its Givati Brigade had withdrawn from the northern Jabalia area during the truce, but was preparing for potential future operations.
Also on Wednesday, Egypt announced that 300 aid trucks had passed through the Rafah border crossing into Gaza following inspections at the Al-Oja and Kerem Shalom crossings under the Israeli control. Among these, 25 trucks carried fuel, a critical resource for Gaza.
Egyptian officials and Red Crescent sources said that efforts are being made to prepare the Rafah crossing for two-way operations by the weekend, with heavy machinery repairing roads around the crossing and near Palestinian cities to facilitate the delivery of aid and the evacuation of injured Palestinians to Egypt.
Since the ceasefire tool effect on Sunday, over 3,200 aid trucks carrying food, medical supplies, and other essentials had entered Gaza through multiple crossings, according to reports as of Wednesday.
On the same day, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that 808 trucks had entered Gaza to mark the fourth day of the truce.
The United Nations has identified Gaza's prioritized humanitarian needs including food relief, healthcare, hospital supplies, water network repairs, house reconstruction materials, and family reunifications.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, was announced on January 15 and consists of three phases towards a permanent ceasefire between the parties.
Aid pours into Gaza as Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal enters fourth day
Aid pours into Gaza as Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal enters fourth day
