Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue
Afghan & Chinese foreign ministers arrive in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Friday arrived in Islamabad to participate in 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue.
Prior to his departure from Kabul, Afghan Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Hafiz Zia Takkal said FM Muttaqi will lead a “comprehensive political and trade delegation”.
“The Afghan government wants to hold wide-ranging bilateral talks on political, economic relations, regional security and transit,” he added.
A day earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) had said that Muttaqi will lead a high-level delegation, which includes the Acting Minister for Commerce and Industry Haji NooruddinAzizi, and senior officials from the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transport and Trade.
The FO had also said the two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the political, economic, trade, connectivity, peace and security, and education domains.
Apart from holding bilateral meetings, the acting Afghan foreign minister will also participate in the fifth China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue on May 6.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang, who will also participate in the trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue, arrived in Islamabad earlier on Friday.
In a tweet on Friday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed that bilateral and trilateral meetings will be held with his Afghan Chinese counterparts today (Saturday).
Since its launch in 2017, the trilateral dialogue mechanism has achieved remarkable results and has become an important platform for the three countries to enhance understanding and deepen mutual trust and cooperation.
The dialogue this time is taking place at a time when cross-border attacks from Afghanistan are on the rise and an estimated 150 attacks have been carried out by terrorists in 2022, using Afghan soil.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang was received by high officials of Pakistan’s Foreign Office at Nur Khan Airbase, Islamabad.
The Chinese FM is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. It is the maiden official visit Qin Gang to Pakistan since assuming office.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and State Councillor Qin Gang will co-chair the 4th round of the ‘Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue’.
The strategic dialogue is a structured mechanism that reviews bilateral cooperation in key areas.
“The two sides will reaffirm the abiding vitality of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership; develop a roadmap for multidimensional cooperation between Pakistan and China; and discuss the evolving regional and global landscape,” it was further added.
The 3rd round of Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue took place in July 2021 in Chengdu, China. Agencies
