‘Pakistan, Aghanistan must have friendly ties’
Chinese envoy says peace and stability in region vital for Belt and Road initiative
Chinese Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs, Dengxijun said yesterday that good friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and peace and stability in the region were in the best interest of China.
“As Pakistan and China are neighbours and important participants of the Belt and Road Initiative, China will actually suffer if there was no peace and stability in these two countries,” he said while talking to a select gathering of media here. He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was main pillar of Belt and Road Initiative and fate changing project for Pakistan while Afghanistan had signed a memorandum of understanding to join the Belt and Road Initiative. Therefore, improved relations would bring peace and stability to both Pakistan and Afghanistan providing China a favourable surrounding, he added.
The Special Envoy said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was elected by Afghan people. “We support Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process and stand ready to continue to play a constructive role in advancing this process,” he added.
Appreciating Pakistan and Afghan governments for their counter-terrorism efforts, he said both countries had assured that an enemy of China posing a direct threat would be considered an enemy of both countries. On the shuttle diplomacy of Chinese foreign minister who visited Kabul and Islamabad, he said Wang Yi focused on improving bilateral relations and help bridge differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
To a question on mediation, he said the Chinese foreign policy was very clear. “We do not interfere in internal affairs and impose our own will on other countries unless friends are in difficult situation and ask us to help resolve it.” He, however, said, “With joint efforts, we can see positive signals by Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two countries are willing to improve relations, strengthen mutual trust and enhance cooperation in various fields including the counter terrorism.”