China's services trade saw steady growth in the first quarter of this year, reaching 1.974 trillion yuan (about 270.62 billion U.S. dollars), up 8.7 percent on a yearly basis, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.
Services exports came in at 835.15 billion yuan (around 114.48 billion U.S. dollars), up 12.2 percent year on year, and services imports rose 6.2 percent to 1.139 trillion yuan (about 156.13 billion U.S. dollars), showed the data.
To be specific, trade in knowledge-intensive services rose 2.6 percent year on year to 752.49 billion yuan (roughly 103.15 billion U.S. dollars). In terms of the major items, other business services and telecommunications, computer and information services registered 320.48 billion yuan (about 43.93 billion U.S. dollars) and 262.34 billion yuan (around 35.96 billion U.S. dollars), rising 0.8 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively
Notably, trade in travel-related services registered the fastest growth. The total imports and exports grew 21.8 percent year on year to reach 584.9 billion yuan (roughly 80.18 billion U.S. dollars), with exports and imports increasing 97.5 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively.
China's services trade reports solid growth in Q1
China's services trade reports solid growth in Q1
China's services trade reports solid growth in Q1
The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.
In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vessels and ports.
The IRGC Navy called on all vessels and their owners to follow official updates via its channel and VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress, safety, and calling frequency. The statements by U.S. President Donald Trump hold no credibility in the strait and the Gulf, it added.
The IRGC warned that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and any approach to the strait would be deemed "cooperation with the enemy" and targeted accordingly.
Tehran's political leadership echoed the IRGC's firm position. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control, revealing that during previous negotiations, Iran had firmly countered U.S. attempts to carry out minesweeping operations, which Tehran viewed as a ceasefire violation.
He said the situation had come close to conflict, but the U.S. had eventually backed off.
Calling the U.S. maritime blockade "reckless and ignorant," Ghalibaf warned that passage through the strait would certainly be restricted if Washington does not lift the blockade.
Underpinning these public announcements, Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday affirmed the country's resolve to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region.
For its part, the United States pressed ahead with its own military measures.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Saturday that the U.S. military is imposing a maritime blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports and nearby coastal areas. Since the blockade began on April 13, 23 ships have complied with U.S. directions to turn around.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing in the coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials.
The move will enable the U.S. to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support Tehran, the report said.
Iran's IRGC says Strait of Hormuz blocked, demands end to US naval blockade
