Islamabad, 6 May 2023 (GNP): The Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari welcomed his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang to Pakistan.
Today marks the fifth round of trilateral talks between Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan, as well as the fourth round of strategic dialogue between Pakistan and China.
The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and China are co-chairing the discussions, with high-level officials from various ministries and institutions present in both delegations.
They will discuss the upcoming bilateral meetings between Pakistan and the foreign ministers of China and Afghanistan. These meetings will be followed by a trilateral meeting involving the three countries.
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The Chinese Foreign Minister stresses enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, particularly on projects of strategic importance. “China is well aware of Pakistan’s economic difficulties and helping Pakistan is China’s priority,” said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
“We welcome Pakistani students to study in Chinese educational institutions,” stated the Chinese Foreign Minister.
China’s foreign minister will have a meeting with officials from the Taliban over the weekend to discuss increasing investment in Afghanistan. This may involve bringing Afghanistan into China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, despite the country’s ongoing crisis.
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The visit will involve a comprehensive review of all aspects of Pakistan and Afghanistan’s bilateral relations, including political, economic, trade, connectivity, peace and security, and education.
The chief diplomat of the Taliban is visiting at a time when representatives from almost 20 countries and international organizations discussed the situation in Afghanistan during a meeting in Qatar. The United Nations organized the meeting, chaired by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which focused on the status of women and girls under the Taliban’s interim government. The two-day closed-door meeting in Doha did not invite Taliban authorities. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, represented Pakistan at the conference.
The Taliban have sought the help of various global powers, including China and Russia, to invest in Afghanistan after taking control of Afghanistan and overthrowing the government that was supported by NATO in 2021. The purpose of this investment is to revive the struggling economy and improve the country’s international relationships, which have suffered due to the Taliban’s takeover.
