US urged to maintain peace, stability across Taiwan Strait with concrete actions

China has urged the United States to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the sound development of bilateral relations with concrete actions, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

Guo made the remarks in response to a media query on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan region.

"China firmly opposes official exchanges between the United States and China's Taiwan region, and resolutely opposes U.S. arms sales to the island. This position is consistent, clear, and unwavering. China urges the United States to fully implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, honor its commitments and statements, and handle the Taiwan issue with the utmost prudence. The United States should stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan separatist forces and take concrete actions to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the sound development of China-U.S. relations," Guo said.

US urged to maintain peace, stability across Taiwan Strait with concrete actions

US urged to maintain peace, stability across Taiwan Strait with concrete actions

The eurozone composite purchasing managers' index (PMI) -- a key indicator of business activity -- fell to 47.5 in May, the lowest level in 31 months, according to data released in an S and P Global report on Thursday.

The report said that increased cost pressures have led to a contraction in business activities in the eurozone.

The service sector, a key pillar of the economy, took a heavy hit, with its PMI plunging to 46.4, a 63-month low.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing PMI stood at 51.4, suggesting the pace of expansion slowed to its weakest since January.

The report quoted Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S and P Global Market Intelligence, as saying that the preliminary PMI data for May showed the war in the Middle East has been weighing increasingly heavily on the eurozone economy.

The eurozone economy is expected to contract by 0.2 percent in the second quarter, while inflation could approach 4 percent in the coming months, according to Williamson.

Eurozone composite PMI falls to lowest level in 31 months