China has grappled with entrenched deflationary pressure, as a prolonged real estate downturn and job insecurity hamper investments and consumer spending.

Two Japanese men were killed in Dalian, a city in northeastern China, and a suspect has been detained, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday, citing the Japanese embassy in China.

Two weeks after a breakthrough trade truce, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that negotiations with China are "a bit stalled," signalling fresh uncertainty in the talks