ISLAMABAD: China, Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday agreed to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan as top leaders from the three nations agreed to deepen trilateral cooperation.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related announcement was made after Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi held an informal trilateral meeting in Beijing, a statement by the Foreign Office (FO) said in Islamabad.
Dar is on a three day visit to Beijing, the first high-level interaction after India launched Operation Sindoor targetting terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan stand together for regional peace, stability, and development,” Dar said in a post on X after the meeting and shared a photo of the three leaders together.
The three Foreign Ministers reaffirmed trilateral cooperation as a vital platform to promote regional security and economic connectivity. “They discussed enhancing diplomatic engagement, strengthening communications, and taking practical steps to boost trade, infrastructure, and development as key drivers of shared prosperity,” it said.
“They agreed to deepen Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.”
The Ministers underscored their shared commitment to countering terrorism and fostering stability and development in the region.
India has opposed the USD 60 billion CPEC construction as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
It was agreed that the 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Kabul at an early, mutually convenient, date, the FO statement added.
The FO in a post on X announced the conclusion of Dar's visit and said Beijing and Islamabad “reaffirmed their iron-clad friendship and advanced their shared vision for international and regional peace and development.”