China appreciates FM Qureshi’s visit to Kabul

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  • Geng Shuang says Beijing in contact with Islamabad, Kabul to arrange second trilateral FM-level dialogue

BEIJING: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday appreciated the recent visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi to Kabul, saying they hope it will lead to an improvement in ties between the two neighbours.

“As a neighbor, we hope that the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan will further develop,” Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese ministry, said while addressing a weekly press briefing here.

China supports implementation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity by both the sides, he said. “China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in improving relations between the two countries and actively promote the cooperation,” he said.

“China is maintaining close communication with Afghanistan and Pakistan on the arrangements for the second trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue,” he said. The first trilateral dialogue between the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan was held in Beijing on December 26 last year and the second trilateral dialogue between the countries is scheduled to be held in Kabul this year.

On September 15, FM Qureshi had visited Kabul on his first foreign visit since assuming office. He met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah and his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani and discussed cooperation in various fields between the two countries.