Wang Yi Chairs the Foreign Ministers' Meeting among China, Afghanistan and Pakistan

On March 30, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the Foreign Ministers' Meeting among China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Tunxi, Anhui Province. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Interim Government Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the meeting.

Wang Yi said, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as traditional friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers and enjoying cultural affinity, jointly created the ancient Silk Road civilization and made important contributions to the East-West integration and mutual learning. We share similar historical experience and have always supported each other in our struggle for national liberation and independence. Since the situation in Afghanistan has undergone fundamental changes, China and Pakistan have immediately engaged in dialogue and exchanges with the Afghan Interim Government in an equal and respectful manner, immediately provided emergency humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan despite difficulties, and immediately promoted the establishment of the foreign-minister-level mechanism of Afghanistan's neighboring countries. The two sides also encouraged and supported Afghanistan's inclusive government and prudent governance, urged the United States to lift its unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, and built the international community's consensus on helping and supporting Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction.

Wang Yi said that under the current circumstances, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan should restart the trilateral cooperation mechanism and advance cooperation in the three areas of politics, development and security based on the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and mutual benefit. First, we should build political mutual trust among our three parties under the principle of good-neighborliness and friendship. We should uphold friendship and partnership with our neighbors, support each other's core concerns and safeguard our common interests. Second, we should promote trilateral practical cooperation to benefit the people. We should jointly advance Belt and Road cooperation and extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, and help Afghanistan participate in regional connectivity. Third, we should strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation under the guidance of the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We should adopt a comprehensive approach to address both the symptoms and root causes, and eliminate the breeding ground of terrorism, so as to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

Qureshi and Muttaqi spoke highly of the significance of the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral meeting and the Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan, and thanked China for hosting the meeting and playing a coordinating and leading role. Qureshi said, a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in the best interest of its neighbors. Pakistan supports Afghanistan in strengthening engagement with the outside world and actively responding to the concerns of the international community. Pakistan is ready to continue to help Afghanistan improve people's livelihood and gain more understanding and support. Afghanistan's frozen overseas assets should be returned immediately.

Muttaqi thanked China for providing Afghanistan with opportunities for dialogue and exchanges with its neighboring countries, saying that Afghanistan is willing to develop relations with friendly countries. The primary task of the Afghan Interim Government is to achieve stability, develop the economy and improve people's livelihood. Afghanistan understands the international community's concerns over the rights and interests of women and children, especially girls' education, and will actively seek progress step by step. The Afghan Interim Government has never banned girls from attending school and has so far reopened 60 percent of schools.

Muttaqi said, Afghanistan would like to solemnly promise once again to China, Pakistan and the whole world that it will never allow terrorists to use Afghan territory to harm other countries' interests and citizens. He thanked China and Pakistan for the valuable support for Afghanistan's development and reconstruction. Afghanistan does not want to rely on charity aid for a long time and hopes to strengthen trilateral cooperation among China, Afghanistan and Pakistan and actively participate in Belt and Road cooperation.

The three sides agreed to hold a formal trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue at an appropriate time.