"China is paying close attention to the current situation in Lebanon and Israel," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a regular briefing.

"We support all efforts conducive to easing tensions and achieving peace and welcome the agreement reached by relevant parties on a ceasefire," she added.

The truce, which began at 4:00 am (0200 GMT), should bring to a halt a war that has forced tens of thousands of people in Israel and hundreds of thousands more in Lebanon to flee their homes.

The war has seen swathes of Lebanon pounded by air strikes, and Israeli troops deployed across the border to battle Hezbollah militants.

It began with Hezbollah launching cross-border strikes in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas following its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

On Wednesday, China insisted that the "failure to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza is the root cause of the current round of turmoil in the Middle East".

"All parties should work together to promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible," Mao said.