Europe welcomes U.S.-Iran truce, urges diplomatic solution

European countries have broadly welcomed a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

After about 40 days of deadly clashes, the U.S. and Iran on Wednesday agreed to pause the fighting and begin a new round of peace talks in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Friday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday announced that the German government will resume direct talks with Iran to support the newly agreed ceasefire.

During a press conference in Berlin, Merz stated that a window of opportunity for a negotiated solution has opened for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict, though he cautioned that the situation in the Middle East remains "fragile."

Merz confirmed he had held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the U.S. leader to pursue the negotiations seriously. He also said that Germany would contribute in an appropriate manner to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

During a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker congratulated Pakistan for facilitating the ceasefire.

Both leaders stressed the importance of ensuring that the ceasefire be upheld by all sides, thereby strengthening the prospects of successful negotiations that could bring lasting peace and stability to the region and beyond.

Austria fully supports a diplomatic solution to end the war, Stocker said on X, adding that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law must be ensured.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Thursday also thanked Pakistan and all those involved for their continued work on the negotiations, adding that Britain will continue to work internationally to support the ceasefire, to promote progress on negotiations, and to restore and protect security and stability for the region, and freedom of navigation for the world.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also welcomed the ceasefire and expressed their hope for lasting peace and stability in the region.

Chinese border authorities handled 185 million entries and exits in the first quarter of 2026, up 13.5 percent from a year earlier, official data showed Friday.

Mainland residents made 91.66 million cross-border trips, a 14.2 percent increase year on year. Trips by residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan totaled 72.49 million, up 10.3 percent, according to the National Immigration Administration.

Foreign nationals made 21.33 million crossings in the first three months, up 22.3 percent. Nearly 78 percent of those were visa-free entries, reflecting the effect of China’s expanded visa-free policies.