Chinese shares close mixed Friday

Chinese stocks closed mixed on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.1 percent to 4,051.43 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.6 percent higher at 14,885.42 points.

The combined turnover of the two indices totaled 2.43 trillion yuan (about 354.11 billion U.S. dollars), up from 2.34 trillion yuan on the previous trading day.

Stocks related to non-metallic material and co-packaged optics led the gains, while those related to tourism and hotel, kitchen appliance, and medical service led the losses.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 1.43 percent to close at 3,678.29 points Friday.

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, closed 0.78 percent higher at 1,843.93 points on Friday.

Chinese shares close mixed Friday

China welcomes all efforts conducive to achieving a ceasefire in the Middle East, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

"China welcomes all efforts conducive to a ceasefire. We hope that the parties concerned will act responsibly to maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations, and resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means," he said in response to a media query.

China welcomes all efforts to cease hostilities in Middle East