China, Pakistan and Afghanistan Boost Trilateral Cooperation

The foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan have met in Beijing for an inaugural trilateral dialogue aimed at establishing agreements on multiple economic and security issues.    

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The most significant outcome of Tuesday's dialogue was a move to include Afghanistan in the more than US$60billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), delegates said.

The CPEC infrastructure starts in China's Kashgar city and ends at Pakistan's Gwadar port. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters: "In the long run, through Afghanistan, we will gradually connect the CPEC with the China-Central and Western Asia Economic Corridor."  

The move is expected to promote economic development in war-torn Afghanistan. 

The hosting minister, Wang Yi, also sought to promote reconciliation between his counterparts, whose countries have maintained strained relations since the Afghani government accused Pakistan of supporting and financing Taliban insurgents, a claim Islamabad denies.  

The three countries have "agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and without any distinctions of any sort," said Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.

On the security front, the next step for the diplomats will be crafting a Memorandum of Understanding on Counter-Terrorism Cooperation.

The second meeting is due to be held in Kabul in 2018.