ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China will hold another significant trilateral meeting in Kabul on August 20 to discuss counterterrorism cooperation and the expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), officials said.
This is the first time that Afghanistan is hosting a trilateral meeting and inviting the Chinese and Pakistani Foreign Ministers for talks on the future of Afghanistan and regional security, and development.
During the day-long meeting, all issues related to Afghanistan’s peace, security, and development would come under discussion, officials said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will attend the trilateral meeting, according to official sources.
The previous meeting among three foreign ministers took place in Beijing on May 21st this year. The meeting scheduled for August 20 would discuss progress on key points agreed upon by Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan on May 21.
Issues related to the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), peace, security, and development will come under discussion. The issue of terrorist organisations operating on Afghan soil would also come under discussion.
Later on the evening of August 20, the Chinese Foreign Minister would travel from Kabul to Islamabad, where he would attend the annual Pakistan-China strategic dialogue scheduled for August 21, officials said.
Chinese Foreign Minister, during his two-day stay in Islamabad, would also call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and the Military leadership.
During the strategic dialogue, which would be attended by the Foreign Ministers of China and Pakistan would review all aspects of bilateral relations and cooperation in different fields.
A joint press statement will be issued at the end of the joint strategic dialogue.
