China urges Pakistan, Afghanistan to improve ties, meet halfway

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday that tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are not conducive to their stability and development as well as regional cooperation, calling on both countries to meet each other halfway so as to improve bilateral ties.

Wang made the call during his meeting with Pakistan’s top foreign affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan should send the international community a positive signal that the two sides are willing to restore mutual trust and cooperate through bilateral channels.

Wang also said China supports the two sides in seeking to establish a crisis management mechanism as soon as possible to properly deal with contingencies, and to form a trilateral meeting system for the foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enhance dialogue and cooperation in all areas.

Aziz said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and improve relations with Afghanistan and to support the political reconciliation process in Afghanistan, as these are in line with both countries’ common interests.

He added that Pakistan has made political and diplomatic efforts on the issue and is willing to activate relevant dialogue mechanisms and channels, adding that it requires the two sides to meet each other halfway.

He also said Pakistan is willing to form the trilateral foreign ministers meeting system and Pakistani- Afghan crisis management mechanism through negotiations to enhance talks and cooperation and properly handle differences.

On China- Pakistan ties, Wang said Pakistan is China’s all- weather strategic cooperative partner, and that the relationship is a unique one for China and is tested by history.

He added that China is willing to improve strategic communication and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Pakistan to maintain the two countries’ common interests.

The Chinese foreign minister said counter- terrorism is an important item in bilateral relations and thanked Pakistan for supporting China’s fight against the violent terrorist group, the “East Turkistan Islamic Movement.”

Wang also hailed Pakistan’s important contribution to the international counter- terrorism cause, as it is in the frontline of the global fight against terror.