China seeks peace between Pakistan, Afghanistan

SINGAPORE—China hosted top diploma ts from Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday in a bid to me-diate along-simmering conflict between the neighboring countries.

Afghan Foreign Minis-ter Salahuddin Rabbani and Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja As if joined their Chinese coun-ter part Wang Y ion Tues-day to discuss possible economic and security co-operation. The first trilat-eral minister-level dia-logue in Beijing comes as China expands its eco-nomic interests in Paki-stan .

“China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as three neighbors, will naturally try to strengthen coopera-tion among each other ,” Mr. Wang was quoted as saying by state broad-caster CCTV .“This is fully in accordance with our common interests, and is a good thing forus.”

The meeting high-lighted China’ s growing role in global hot spots as President Donald Trump’ s administration embraces a more inward-looking foreign policy. President Xi Jinping has sought to present China as a responsible alternative to the U.S ., shifting from along standing policy of keeping a low profile in international affairs.

China hoped the meet-ing could setup a commu-nication platform for Af-ghanistan and Pakistan that would allow the two countries to build trust, enhance understanding and improve ties, Mr. Wang said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The three countries agreed to establish the mechanism during Mr. Wang’s visits to Kabul and Islamabad in June.

China is investing more than $50 billion in Paki-stan to create an eco-nomic corridor that would link its remote western re-gion to the Arabian Sea. Beijing’s leaders have also boosted economic and trade ties with Afghan-istan.

Afghanistan has ac-cused Pakistan of provid-ing a safe haven for Tali-ban militants looking to over throw the U.S .- backed government in Kabul.

Several rounds of meetings in the past few years between the U.S ., China, Pakistan and Af-ghanistan failed to facili-tate meaningful peace talks.