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By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) - China is interested in Kabul’s formal participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi, according a statement Wednesday from the Afghan Foreign Ministry.
Wang made the comments during talks with Muttaqi during the former’s second trip to Kabul since March 2022.
Beijing has pushed to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of the BRI, to Afghanistan.
The Chinese foreign minister also “expressed readiness to expand cooperation with Afghan institutions in mining exploration and extraction, indicating China’s intention to commence practical mining operations this year,” said the statement.
Wang is in Kabul for third trilateral meeting between the Chinese, Afghan and Pakistani top diplomats.
Neither Beijing nor Islamabad formally recognizes the interim administration, but both nations have posted their ambassadors in Kabul and have received Afghan envoys in their capitals.
Muttaqi said ties with Beijing were “progressing,” as the bilateral trade had reached $1 billion.
He discussed “practical proposals” regarding the expansion of economic cooperation between Afghanistan and China, particularly in the areas of transportation, banking, and balancing trade, said the statement.
Muttaqi reaffirmed that Afghanistan’s territory “will never be used against neighboring countries.”
Wang also met Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, according to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the interim administration.
“China has cooperated not only with Afghanistan but also with other countries around the world in their development, and it has played a constructive role,” Akhund told Wang, urging Beijing to continue its “efforts and cooperation on the international stage in support of Afghanistan’s legitimate position.”
Wang told the prime minister that China was a “sincere and steadfast” in its friendship with Afghanistan.
“We fully support the Afghan people in their progress,” he said, according to Fitrat.
“Effective security cooperation between the two countries will establish a foundation for Afghanistan’s development. We hope that you, as China’s friend, will attach special importance to this matter and further enhance your cooperation,” Wang added.
- Top diplomats meet for trilateral
Kabul is hosting the first multilateral diplomatic development, bringing together top diplomats of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The interim Afghan administration has only been recognized by Russia since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.
Pakistan is represented by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who also held a separate bilateral with Muttaqi.
The last round of trilateral talks between China, Pakistan and Afghanistan was held in China in May.
Wang is the only top diplomat among UN's P5 nations who has visited Kabul twice since the return of Taliban administration in August 2021.