Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media platform: The Degel HaTorah party, which has four members in the Knesset, announces its withdrawal from Netanyahu's cabinet.
Local Syrian sources: The raids targeted the road between the village of Al-Mazra'a and the city of Sweida, where forces and factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense are advancing.
Local Syrian sources: New raids carried out by Israeli warplanes targeted vehicles and gatherings of military factions affiliated with the new Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Local Syrian sources: Israeli raids target, for the third time, gatherings of Syrian Defense Forces military factions in the southern countryside of Sweida.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza Strip hospitals received 120 martyrs and 557 wounded in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis

China, Taliban hold talks about Afghanistan's inclusion in Belt & Road

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Financial Times
  • 8 May 2023 16:44
3 Min Read

The war-torn nation is seeking to recover from twenty years of destruction by forging alliances with global powers, including China and Russia who both rival the West's hegemony.

  • x
  • .
    Qin Gang, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan respectively, after their meeting in Islamabad on Saturday. (AFP)

The Financial Times reported on Monday that China and the Taliban have held talks over the possible inclusion of Afghanistan into the Belt & Road Initiative.

On Saturday, China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Pakistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met in Pakistan as part of the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue.

As per a statement issued by China’s foreign ministry, all three parties engaged in discussions on security and trade while Afghanistan expressed the "hopes to strengthen co-operation with China in . . . infrastructure development within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative."

Video: Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal posted a video from the meeting of acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
Bhutto said on Twitter that they “held productive… pic.twitter.com/gPtgdFcWs4

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) May 6, 2023

The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August of 2021 after an incredibly chaotic withdrawal of US troops and the end of the US occupation of the country.

In the 20 years during which Afghanistan was invaded by the NATO-led coalition, the Southern-Central Asian country has suffered tremendous destruction at unprecedented levels, leaving the country crippled by an excruciating economic crisis and sporadic terror attacks spearheaded by IS-K. 

Earlier this week, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said the country was trapped in "the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today," with nearly two-thirds of its population in urgent need of aid and six million at risk of famine, UN estimates reveal.

The war-torn nation has sought to recover from the damage by forging alliances with global powers, including China and Russia who both happen to rival the West's hegemony.

Part of such efforts involves restoring ties with its neighbor Pakistan via partnership in the China-sponsored Belt & Road Initiative. 

Related News

Kabul welcomes Russian recognition as gateway to deeper ties

Russia becomes first to recognize Taliban govt. since 2021 takeover

"The idea is to engage Afghanistan in economic activity that has already linked China and Pakistan together," a Pakistani official told the Financial Times.

Earlier this year, in January, Chinese and Afghan officials announced they concluded a deal to allow Chinese state-owned Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Company to drill in the country. 

Acting first deputy PM for economic affairs in the Afghan government Abdul Ghani Baradar stated that the deal will boost his country's economy and strengthen its independence.

"The contractor will invest up to $150 million a year, which will increase to $540 million in three years,"  according to the minister.

Read more: White House admits massive intel failure in hasty Afghan withdrawal

Likewise, the Taliban also announced in late September last year that they concluded a series of agreements involving trade in oil and wheat. 

Beijing has maintained ties with the Taliban-led government after US forces withdrew from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has been struggling with poverty, demanding US President Joe Biden to unfreeze 7 billion dollars worth of Afghan assets, which his administration will be splitting among families of 9/11 victims. None of the 9/11 terrorists were Afghan.

In addition to contributing to the development of Afghanistan, China has aided the country with food, winter materials, COVID-19 vaccines, and medicines worth close to $30 million. 

Read more: US, NATO responsible for restoring Afghanistan security: Chinese envoy

  • Afghanistan
  • belt and road initiative
  • Taliban
  • China

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned
Politics

Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Rutte, Trump
US & Canada

Trump threatens 100% secondary tariffs on Russia, sets deadline

Syrian government soldiers on a motorcycle pass by a burning tank on the outskirts of Sweida city, where clashes erupted between the Druze community and Bedouine clans, in southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli airstrikes target Syrian military factions near Sweida

Lebanon, US, disarmament
MENA

US pressure on Lebanon grows over Resistance disarmament plan

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS