In a significant step toward strengthening regional connectivity and economic cooperation, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and the Taliban have agreed to extend the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan.
The agreement was reached during an informal trilateral meeting held in Beijing on Wednesday, attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
In a statement released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on regional security and economic development. The trilateral platform, they stated, plays a crucial role in promoting stability, countering terrorism, and enhancing economic connectivity across the region.
The ministers exchanged views on intensifying diplomatic engagement, improving communication, and adopting practical measures to increase trade, develop infrastructure, and drive shared prosperity through mutually beneficial projects.
The expansion of CPEC into Afghanistan was highlighted as a key initiative for integrating Afghanistan into broader regional development efforts. CPEC, a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has primarily focused on infrastructure and energy development across Pakistan. Its extension into Afghanistan is seen as a strategic move to improve regional integration and support Afghanistan’s post-conflict reconstruction.
All three parties underscored the importance of continued cooperation in combating terrorism and fostering long-term peace and development.
The statement also confirmed that the sixth formal trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and the Taliban will be held in Kabul at a mutually agreed date.
