China, Afghanistan, Pakistan pledge greater cooperation for shared development

At the ?sixth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Dialogue, held in Kabul? on Wednesday, the three nations reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across all fields to promote regional peace, stability and shared prosperity.

The dialogue was attended by visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi?, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and ?Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar?.

The mechanism, first established in ?2017,? was revived in ?2022? during a meeting in China's Anhui province and serves as a key platform for coordination among the three countries.

During Wednesday's talks, Wang emphasized the need for the three countries to expand development cooperation, boost trade and investment, improve connectivity infrastructure, and strengthen people-to-people ties. He also called for deeper security collaboration to combat transnational terrorism.

Wang further stressed the need for mutual trust and support in areas of core interest, as well as opposing any external interference in regional affairs.

He also expressed China's support for Afghanistan in advancing diplomatic normalization and pledged to speak for Afghanistan in multilateral forums.

Muttaqi? praised China's contributions to trilateral cooperation and said Afghanistan was willing to deepen friendly relations and enhance coordination for greater progress in trilateral cooperation.

Noting the strong historical, cultural and economic ties that bind the the three nations, Dar called for intensified collaboration for common development in the areas of trade, Belt and Road cooperation, connectivity and counterterrorism.?