Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has voiced support for the formation of a trilateral dialogue mechanism between the foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enhance dialogue and cooperation in all areas.
Wang made the remarks during his meetings with Afghanistan's national security adviser Haneef Atmar and Pakistan's top foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz respectively on Saturday.
Afghan-Pakistan relations
During his meeting with Pakistani's Aziz in Islamabad, Wang said Pakistan and Afghanistan should send the international community a positive signal that the two sides are willing to restore mutual trust and conduct cooperation through bilateral channels.
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Pakistani top foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz during their meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, on June 24, 2017./Xinhua Photo
Wang called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to meet each other halfway to improve relations, and said China supports both sides in seeking the establishment of a crisis management mechanism as quickly as possible, so as to properly deal with contingencies.
Aziz said that Pakistan is willing to intensify communications and improve relations with Afghanistan, and supports the political reconciliation process in Afghanistan, as these are in line with both countries' common interests.
He added that Pakistan is willing to form a trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue mechanism and an Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis management mechanism through negotiations, to enhance talks and cooperation and properly handle divergences.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a meeting with Pakistani top foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad, Pakistan, on June 24, 2017. /CGTN Photo
Speaking to Afghanistan's national security adviser Atmar in Kabul earlier on Saturday, Wang noted that as a good friend of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, China hopes the two countries can improve their relations, rebuild mutual trust, co-exist peacefully and cooperate towards mutual benefits.
Atmar said China, Afghanistan and Pakistan are faced with common challenges and threats, and Afghanistan is willing to establish a dialogue mechanism to enhance trilateral communications.
China-Pakistan, China-Afghanistan ties
Speaking of China-Pakistan relations, Wang said that Pakistan is China's all-weather strategic cooperative partner, and the relationship is a unique one in China's foreign relations that has been tested by history.
He added China is willing to improve strategic communications and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Pakistan in order to maintain the two countries' common interests.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi talks with Pakistani top foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz at a meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, on June 24, 2017. /CGTN Photo
In terms of China-Afghanistan ties, Wang said China and Afghanistan are close friends and good neighbors. China supports Afghanistan in its efforts to seek a development path suitable to its national conditions.
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Afghanistan's national security adviser Haneef Atmar during their meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan, on June 24, 2017. /CGTN Photo
Atmar said Afghanistan views China as its best friend and partner in all areas, and hopes that bilateral practical cooperation can be expanded.
Counter-terrorism cooperation
The Chinese foreign minister highlighted that counter terrorism is an important part of bilateral relations, and expressed thanks to Pakistan for its firm support for China's fight against the violent terrorist group the "East Turkestan Islamic Movement."
Wang also hailed Pakistan's important contributions to the international counter terrorism cause, as it is on the frontline of the global fight against terror.
Newly graduated Pakistani police officers perform anti-terror drills during their graduation ceremony after completing training in Karachi, Pakistan, on June 15, 2015. /VCG Photo
Aziz said that the international counter-terrorism situation is becoming more difficult in the face of more frequent terror incidents, and Pakistan has suffered a lot from terrorist attacks. He pledged that Pakistan will make greater efforts to fight against terrorism of all forms together with the international community.
Speaking to Afghanistan's Atmar, Wang said Afghanistan is an important partner in China's anti-terror cooperation. China hopes Afghanistan will continue to provide steadfast support for the crackdown on the "East Turkestan Islamic Movement" terrorist group.
(With inputs from Xinhua)
