Chinese shares close higher Wednesday

Chinese stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.46 percent to 3,680.64 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.32 percent higher at 11,389.74 points.

Turnover of stocks covered by these two indices totaled about 1.68 trillion yuan (around 250 billion U.S. dollars), up from 1.51 trillion yuan on the previous day.

Shares related to electronic components, telecom equipment, and co-packaged optics were among the top gainers, while Chinese liquor, airports and aviation, and dairy stocks led the declines.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 3.11 percent to close at 2,572.07 points Wednesday.

China will deepen cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries in green trade and cross-border e-commerce during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), and push ahead with projects already under way, a senior official with the Ministry of Commerce said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

Speaking at the briefing held by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Song Lihong, a first-level inspector with the Ministry of Commerce, said that China will work to expand imports of quality goods from partner countries and promote exports of products from emerging industries, supporting industrial development in those countries.

"China will continue to grant zero-tariff treatment to the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relationship with China, and implement the full zero-tariff policy for African countries with diplomatic relationship. China will also develop trade in services, promote cooperation in areas such as research and development and design, advance the 'Thousand Sails Going Global' action plan for cultural trade, and keep expanding digital trade," Song said.

China will promote investment cooperation with its Belt and Road partner countries, strengthen industrial and supply chain links, and encourage companies to take part in emerging fields such as green energy, green minerals, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, he added.