China emerges as reliable partner for Afghan development

Afghanistan, the landlocked jewel connecting South and Central Asia in critical stages of history, has been marked as a country in dire need of billions of dollars for overall sustainable development.

The withdrawal of foreign forces prior to securing durable peace and socioeconomic development has left Afghanistan in a fragile situation for its people and the region.

The private sector and State-owned enterprises all are facing the worst consequences of speedy withdrawal as the potential of local and international business is waning in the current wave of violence.

Afghanistan is eyeing diversification and development of the country amid the conflict by strengthening institutions, developing reliable infrastructure, rejecting widespread corruption among the political elite, introducing a business-friendly environment, and gaining political stability.

The agony of the country's situation seems to continue, as a recent World Bank report claims that that aid for Afghanistan is now expected to decline by around 20 percent from the previous pledge period ($15.2 billion over 2016-2020) but could fall even lower if conditions are not met or if major donors further reduce commitment levels amid domestic fiscal pressure.

It's obvious that the priorities of those including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and G-7 have taken a quick turn from Afghanistan toward tackling their domestic financial burden amid the COVID-19 pandemic and their downward economies.

The report noted that Afghanistan now faces daunting challenges in sustaining recent development gains in the face of mounting political uncertainties, declining international grant support, and continued insecurity.

So in this scenario, when Afghanistan is also expectedly heading toward forming a new political framework with the advancement of the Afghan Taliban, the country needs to carefully revisit the overall economic revival options which could benefit the war-torn nation.

While the US and other EU countries are facing domestic financial burdens due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has become the only viable option and only source of reliable financial development left for Afghanistan.

Amid the pandemic plaguing Western economies, reports have surfaced that China's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 12.7 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2021 as recovery continues.

China's outbound direct investment (ODI) into countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) increased in the first five months of 2021.

During the period, such investment into BRI countries expanded 13.8 percent year-on-year to $7.43 billion dollars, accounting for 17.2 percent of the total.

So, the figures speak loudly that China has been emerging as a valuable financial source for dozens of countries in this volatile global economic situation when Western countries are hesitant to extend support toward developing countries.

Now, Afghanistan, being a neighbor and close partner of China, has many logical and solid reasons to expand the comprehensive economic partnership with China for maximum dividends in sustainable development.

The options for Kabul to push forward the economic partnership with US and European countries are shrinking as it is the second time that those countries have left Afghanistan in very precarious situation.

Those countries, pushing their agenda of interfering in other nations, have already been exposed with their policies of invasion in the last 20 years, since the start of the war on terror.

With the global economy still in a fragile situation, China's economic performance has become key to achieving world economic recovery and promoting sustainable development for all.

Historically, China and Afghanistan have developed a very cordial relationship and trust as both have never interfered in each other's internal and international affairs.

Now, China, at a regional and international level, has attached a great importance to Beijing's economic diplomacy to help partners and war-torn countries looking for economic revival.

Always neutral in regional and international conflicts, China has emerged as a very reliable development partner in the region for Afghanistan.

China must continue pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative around the globe for the sustainable development of partner countries based on mutual consultations.

As a neighboring country to Afghanistan, China's fundamental and top interest is Afghanistan's stability and economic independence, which can be cultivated through a collaborative working partnership.

China and other regional countries including Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian states have always preferred that Afghanistan become a developed state, fulfilling its dream of establishing a strong connection between South and Central Asia.

China and Pakistan have already engaged with Afghanistan to serve as a practical partner of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship BRI project.

Worth over $60 billion, CPEC has already changed the economic outlook of Pakistan at an international level by tackling the energy crisis of the country and upgrading the infrastructure.

The smooth progress for CPEC has raised the economic value of this initiative by extending its development toward Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is in the utmost need of development in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education and society, which can be pushed forward under the umbrella of CPEC based on mutual and meaningful consultations between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It is time for Afghanistan to evaluate all available development options for its people, and should avail them by showing a collective wisdom of their nation to pursue the ultimate goal of peace and development in a longer run.

The author is a journalist with Independent News Pakistan and fellow of China South Asia and South East Asia Press Centre.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.

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