Karzai off to Beijing; trade, security ties on agenda

KABUL (PAN): Heading a high-level delegation, President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday left for a four-day state visit to China, a trip aimed at further cementing political and economic relations between the two countries.

During the presidential trip, Afghanistan and China would sign three memoranda of understanding on bilateral cooperation in different spheres, according to his spokesman Aimal Faizi.

Karzai would meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other host leaders, besides attending the opening ceremony of the Euro-Asia Economic Forum (EAEF), a statement from his office said. It is Karzai’s second trip to China in as many years.

He is accompanied by his National Security Advisor Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani, Advisor on Foreign Affairs Yahya Maroofi, Deputy Foreign Minister Ershad Ahmadi and president spokesman Aimal Faizi.

Karzai is expected to urge Beijing to help train and equip Afghan security forces, invest in the war-torn country, step up the development of the Ainak Copper Project in Logar province and discuss China’s interest in exploring fuel and gas at the Amu River base.

pr/mud

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