Tariff worries persisted as China moved to halt Boeing purchases amid tariff tensions and U.S. President Donald Trump issued a pointed message, saying China should approach the U.S. for a trade deal to ease tariffs because it relies heavily on American consumers.

The ball is in China's court, the president said in a statement read at the White House briefing.

Meanwhile, as the tariff war heats up, China today appointed Li Chenggang as vice minister of commerce and a top representative for international trade negotiation, replacing Wang Shouwen.

China's Shanghai Composite index edged up by 0.26 percent to 3,276 after official data showed China's economy grew more than expected in the first quarter despite trade tariff disputes.

GDP grew 5.4 percent year-on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. This was better than economists' forecast of 5.1 percent and was unchanged from the previous quarter.

In March, retail sales moved up 5.9 percent from the previous year while economists had forecast sales to climb 4.2 percent. Industrial production advanced 7.7 percent from a year ago compared to forecast of 5.7 percent.

Fixed asset investment increased 4.2 percent in the January to March period while economists had forecast an expansion of 4.1 percent.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 1.91 percent to 21,056.98 amid rising U.S.-China tension. Hong Kong Post said today it had suspended goods mail services by sea to the United States and will suspend its air mail postal service for items containing goods from April 27 due to bullying U.S. tariffs.

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