Trilateral moot resolve to expand CPEC to Afghanistan

Chinese spokesperson says Beijing willing to strengthen development cooperation

BEIJING,:

China said on Tuesday the trilateral meeting in Islamabad over the weekend reaffirmed the resolve to harness Afghanistan’s potential as a hub for regional connectivity and jointly expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said told his regular media briefing in Beijing that foreign ministers from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan had “candid and in-depth exchange of views” on various matters.

The three foreign ministers, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of Pakistan, Qin Gang of China and Amir Muttaqi of Afghanistan had met Islamabad on Saturday for the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue.

The joint statement of the meeting, issued on Monday said that the three sides resolved to expand their cooperation in the security, development and political domains based on the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and mutual benefit.

Wang told the media that the foreign ministers reached common understanding in their talks on good neighbourliness, mutual trust, security cooperation, counterterrorism, connectivity, trade and investment.

The foreign ministers reaffirmed their resolve to harness Afghanistan’s potential as a hub for regional connectivity and their commitment to trilateral cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Wang said.

He added that the three parties resolved to further deepen and expand cooperation in security, development and political domains and agreed to coordinate and cooperate on security, organised crime, drug smuggling etc.

“As State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang noted, China through the trilateral channel is ready to strengthen policy coordination, enhance strategic mutual trust and step up counterterrorism and security cooperation,” Wand continued.

“China is also willing to strengthen development cooperation and the three countries could jointly set an example of cooperation among neighbours on issues and promote regional stability and prosperity,” he added.