China supports Afghanistan’s inclusion in CPEC

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

China supports extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan so that the Afghan people can benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

This was disclosed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Hua Chunying a regular media briefing in Beijing. 

“China appreciates the resumption of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and ensure to play a constructive role to promote economic development and integration between two countries,” she remarked. 

Hua Chunying pointed out that Gwadar and other CPEC projects have played a significant role in regional integration. 

She mentioned that Pakistan has opened five key routes with Afghanistan for bilateral and transit trade over the past weeks to help war-ravaged Afghanistan boost trade. Pakistan, it may be recalled, had closed all trade routes with Afghanistan in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak.