Belt plan to open new chapter in Sino-Afghan relations

KABUL into a regional intersection.

The six-member delegation led by Xing Guangcheng, Director General Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), met high Afghan officials, including Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

After the meetings, Xing Guangcheng told reporters that they talked with Afghan officials about how to make the ‘One Belt, One Road project’ a success.

“Afghanistan is one of the most important countries in the ancient Silk Road region and China is willing to work with Afghanistan on construction of a new road to open a new chapter in our relations,” Cheng said.

He added implementation the megaproject would not only have a positive impact on peace and development in Afghanistan and the region, but would also bring the two nations closer and turn Afghanistan into a regional trade roundabout.

Acting information and culture minister Mohammad Rasool Bawari said the centuries-old friendship between Afghanistan and China was a good example in the region. He said Afghanistan was interested in having relations with China in various fields.

Foreign Ministry official Sultan Ahmad Baheen said Afghanistan supported China’s ‘one belt, one road’ initiative.

 “The Chinese government shares views with the Afghan government about implementation of the ‘one road, one belt’ project, this is a comprehensive program and all countries the route goes through are involved in it.”

The Silk Road system has existed for over 2000 years. China’s connectivity program involves extending the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is part of One Road One Belt Initiative (BRI, to Afghanistan, and then stretching the “belt” to its neighbors -Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran.

kh/ma

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