KABUL - China has suggested trilateral talks on laying the Quetta-Kabul railway line and other connectivity initiatives of economic importance, the Presidential Palace said on Thursday.
Visiting Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou floated the proposal for talks among Afghanistan, Pakistan and China during a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani here.
The Chinese delegation extended President Xi Jinping’s best wishes to Ghani and praised Afghan government efforts for durable peace, improved security, regional cooperation and fighting against terrorism.
Afghanistan was vital to China’s economic corridor, said Xuanyou, who proposed Beijing, Islamabad and Kabul should form a team to discuss railroads stretching from Peshawar and Quetta to Kabul and other regional projects.
He stressed coordinated action against terrorism, calling it a threat to the entire region. He said China was considering more military assistance to Afghanistan and would announce a new aid package for it soon.
Ghani also extended his best wishes to president and welcomed consistent support from Beijing. The president called terrorism a huge threat to Afghanistan, China and the region. He called collective efforts against the menace.
The president said terrorists should be eliminated without any distinction. About the three-nation team for economic talks, the president said Central Asian states should also be made part of this group.
Ghani added Afghanistan wished cordial relations with all neighbours as joint economic efforts and collaboration would bring happiness to the region.
He called Afghanistan a bridge and a transit platform for energy exports from Central Asia to South Asia. The president sought Chinese assistance in building dams and electricity generation. (Pajhwok)