China hopes that a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire can be achieved in the Gaza Strip at an early date to effectively ease the humanitarian crisis and tensions in the region, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiaqun at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
Guo said China upholds the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine," and promotes implementation of the two-state solution.
China stands ready to work with the international community to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue and tirelessly promote peace and stability in the Middle East, he said.
Earlier Thursday, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced that it has reached an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces, allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and carry out a prisoner exchange.
The announcement came following three days of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Egypt's resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh brokered by the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye to negotiate a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Egypt's Qahera TV, Gaza ceasefire entered into force just now.
China calls for permanent Gaza ceasefire, stresses two-state solution
China calls for permanent Gaza ceasefire, stresses two-state solution
The European Commission's autumn 2025 economic forecast shows that driven by a surge in exports in anticipation of U.S. tariff increases, the European Union's (EU) economy maintained growth in the third quarter of this year, and it is expected to continue expanding at a moderate pace over the forecast horizon.
In the report released on Monday, the Commission said the gross domestic product (GDP) of the EU is expected to grow 1.4 percent in 2025, with the eurozone expanding 1.3 percent. Growth in 2026 is forecast at 1.4 percent for the EU and 1.2 percent for the eurozone, both slightly lower than projections made in May.
Eurozone headline inflation is projected to ease to 2.1 percent this year from 2.4 percent in 2024. Inflation across the EU is seen declining from 2.6 percent in 2024 to 2.2 percent in 2027, remaining slightly above the eurozone rate.
Due to the increase in defence spending, the EU's fiscal deficit is expected to rise to 3.4 percent of GDP in 2027 from 3.1 percent in 2024. The EU debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to rise from 84.5 percent in 2024 to 85 percent in 2027, with the eurozone ratio set to rise from around 88 percent to 90.4 percent.
The forecast noted that globally, trade barriers have reached historic highs, and the EU now faces higher average tariffs on exports to the U.S. compared with the spring forecast. Persistent trade policy uncertainty continues to weigh on economic activity, with tariffs and non-tariff restrictions potentially constraining EU growth more than expected. Any escalation in geopolitical tensions could intensify supply shocks, it noted.
EU expects economy to expand moderately
