China, Afghanistan, Pakistan Pledge to Enhance Cooperation on Security, Counter-Terrorism

General

China, Afghanistan and Pakistan have pledged to further strengthen trilateral cooperation on security and counter-terrorism.

When attending the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in the Pakistani capital, the three foreign ministers agreed to uphold good-neighborliness and friendship, deepen political mutual trust, respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and properly address differences and disputes through equal consultation.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met last night with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan interim government Amir Khan Muttaqi. The Chinese Foreign Minister said that China is ready to make joint efforts with Afghanistan and Pakistan to implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, according to China’s News Agency (Xinhua).

He called for enhanced trilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism through such mechanisms as the coordination and cooperation mechanism among neighbors of Afghanistan within the regional multilateral framework.

China is willing to strengthen strategic communication and policy coordination with Afghanistan and Pakistan through the trilateral cooperation mechanism, so as to boost good-neighborliness and strategic mutual trust, Qin added.

For their part, Muttaqi and Bilawal said the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan cooperation is of great significance to regional peace and prosperity.

They said Afghanistan and Pakistan are willing to actively promote trilateral cooperation, formulate a roadmap for cooperation in such fields as politics, security and economy, safeguard the common interests of the three countries, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and bring benefits to the people of the three neighbors and other countries in the region.

They made it clear to oppose interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, illegal unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, and all acts that undermine regional peace and stability.

The three sides pledged to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation. China and Pakistan expressed their support for the Afghan interim government to strengthen capacity building to better cope with the threat of terrorism. Afghanistan stressed that it will not allow any forces to use its territory for activities against China and Pakistan.

Source: Qatar News Agency