China urges better Afghanistan ties as US withdrawal looms
China is urging better security and monetary cooperation with Afghanistan within an apparent effort to bolster its impact in the region as the US and its own allies prepare to withdraw their forces from the country.
The official Xinhua Reports Agency reported that foreign ministers from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan met via video conference on Thursday and agreed that the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan ought to be carried out in a responsible and orderly manner to avoid the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan and the return of "terrorist forces."It quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while saying the 3 countries "needed to to strengthen connection and cooperation" with regard to Afghanistan's interests and the ones of neighboring countries. "
The security and stability of Afghanistan and the spot are facing latest challenges, with foreign troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan accelerated. the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan impacted, and armed conflicts and terrorist activities becoming more consistent," Wang was quoted as saying. China has prolonged resented the existence of US and allied forces in Afghanistan, but is equally cautious with the country becoming a haven for insurgents that could threaten reliability in its Xinjiang place that shares a narrow border with Afghanistan.
Xinhua said Wang, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi "stressed the need to ... forbid any terrorist companies or individuals from employing their territories to engage in criminal actions against other countries."
China has sought to purchase Afghan means, particularly copper, but constant fighting between the federal government, the Taliban and other teams has largely held back again such projects. China in addition has sought to boost previously close ties with Pakistan through its Belt and Street initiative, but the country's monetary weakness and security concerns have blunted the achievements of that drive.
