China to open new economic corridor with Afghanistan: Envoy

KABUL (Pajhwok): China plans to open a new economic corridor with Afghanistan through Tajikistan and exempt Afghan goods from export tax next month, the country’s ambassador in Kabul says.

In a meeting with deputy prime minister for political affairs Maulvi Abdul Kabir, Chinese ambassador to Kabul Zhao Xing said the ground has been paved for economic and commercial projects in Afghanistan and stressed enhanced cooperation between the two countries in various fields, a statement from the Presidential Palace said.

He said Afghanistan’s exports to China had increased and hoped that this level would reach 25 percent next year from this year's 11.5 percent,.

He also said waiving off tax on Afghanistan's exports to China in December would lead to further increase in exports of Afghan products.

The Chinese ambassador said his country wanted to open a new economic corridor with Afghanistan through Tajikistan and in this regard a tripartite meeting between Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan will be held.

Mualvi Kabir welcomed China’s move to exempt Afghanistan’s exports from tax and added it would positively impact Afghan trade and the country’s economy.

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