China-Pak Economic Corridor to be extended to Afghanistan, says Pakistan
This story was originally published at 20:14 IST on 21 May 2025
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NEW DELHI – The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be extended to Afghanistan, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said after a meeting among foreign ministers of the three countries in Beijing Wednesday. The three countries also agreed to deepen cooperation for China's Belt and Road Initiative.
"They (the foreign ministers) agreed to deepen the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan," Pakistan's foreign ministry shared on the social media platform X.
The corridor is a major infrastructure project that forms a key part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. It aims to connect Gwadar Port in Balochistan with Xinjiang in China through a 3,000 km network of highways, railways, and energy projects. The corridor has strategic importance for China as it provides the country's a shorter trade route to the Arabian Sea, bypassing the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia, and secure energy supply lines.
India has opposed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and territory seized by Pakistan in 1948 and ceded later to China. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also reaffirmed trilateral cooperation as a vital platform to promote regional security and economic connectivity, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.
"They discussed enhancing diplomatic engagement, strengthening communications, and taking practical steps to boost trade, infrastructure, and development as key drivers of shared prosperity," the ministry said. The ministers also decided that the sixth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting will be held in Kabul at an early, mutually convenient date.
On Tuesday, Wang held a bilateral meeting with Dar in Beijing and expressed firm support to Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also expressed support to Pakistan in "exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, resolutely combating terrorism, and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs".
During the talks, Dar briefed Wang on the situation after the ceasefire understanding with India as well as on Pakistan's considerations. He thanked China for "upholding justice" and making unremitting efforts and significant contributions to promoting ceasefire for peace, the Chinese foreign ministry said. Dar also said Pakistan will resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is willing to maintain dialogue with India to ease the situation, the Chinese ministry said. End
Reported by Kuldeep Singh
Edited by Nishant Maher
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