Mining, belt and road participation functions in Kabul’s trilateral meetings between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
China wants to explore mining in Afghanistan and participate in Kabul’s large infrastructure plan, a Belt and Road initiative. This is a central pillar of President Xi Jinping’s bid to expand his country’s global impact, Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Ministry said.
The Chinese king is visiting Kabul and is holding consultations with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Maurawi Amir Khan Muttaki, the ministry said in a statement Wednesday, adding that the two countries hope to deepen relations in many regions.
According to a readout from a meeting released by China’s Foreign Ministry, Beijing will continue to support the Afghan government to achieve long-term peace and stability, Wang told Muttaqi.
China is willing to deepen political mutual trust with Afghanistan and strengthen cooperation in the region, including trade and agriculture, Wang said.
He called on Afghanistan to fight armed groups, adding that stricter security links provide guarantees of bilateral economic cooperation.
“Wang Yi also said that China intends to launch practical mining activities this year,” the Afghan statement said.
According to Hamudra Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the administration, the king also met Afghan Prime Minister Muhammad Hassan Akhand.
“China has played a constructive role in cooperation with not only Afghanistan but also with other countries around the world in development,” Ahnd told the King, urging Beijing to continue “effort and cooperation on the international stage to support Afghanistan’s legitimate position.”
The Wang told the Prime Minister that China is “honest and steady” in its friendship with Afghanistan.
“We fully support the Afghan people in their progress,” he said.
The king is in Kabul for a trilateral meeting between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Neither Beijing nor Islamabad officially recognizes the interim government, but the two countries posted ambassadors to Kabul and received an Afghan envoy in the capital.
China was the first country to appoint an ambassador for Afghanistan under the Taliban, and sought to develop ties with the hardline groups that ruled the war-torn country in 2021.
A poor country rich in lithium, copper and iron deposits can provide rich mineral resources to increase the security of Beijing’s supply chain, analysts say.
