Kabul: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his second visit to Kabul since 2022, signaling China’s interest in Afghanistan’s official involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

According to Anadolu Agency, this meeting underscores Beijing’s ongoing efforts to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key project of the BRI, into Afghanistan.

Wang Yi’s visit to Kabul was marked by discussions with his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, where he expressed China’s readiness to enhance cooperation in mining exploration and extraction, with plans to initiate practical operations this year. This engagement was part of the third trilateral meeting involving China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s top diplomats. Despite neither Beijing nor Islamabad formally recognizing the interim Afghan administration, both countries have maintained diplomatic ties through their ambassadors in Kabul and have welcomed Afghan envoys in their capitals.

Muttaqi highlighted the progress in China-Afghanistan relations, noting that bilateral trade had reached $1 billion. He also discussed proposals to expand economic cooperation in transportation, banking, and trade balance. Reassuring China’s concerns, Muttaqi stated that Afghanistan’s territory would not be used against neighboring countries.

During his visit, Wang Yi also met with Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund. Akhund praised China’s global development cooperation and urged Beijing to continue supporting Afghanistan’s legitimate position internationally. Wang assured Akhund of China’s steadfast friendship and support for the Afghan people, emphasizing the importance of security cooperation between the two nations as a foundation for Afghanistan’s development.

Kabul hosted its first multilateral diplomatic event since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, bringing together top diplomats from China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Pakistan, represented by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, also engaged in a bilateral meeting with Muttaqi. The previous trilateral talks were held in China in May. Notably, Wang Yi is the only top diplomat from the UN’s P5 nations to engage in such high-level discussions with the Afghan interim administration.