China, Afghanistan and Pakistan look to boost trade and security cooperation
China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will enhance trilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade and security, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement was posted on X after informal talks in Beijing between Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Wednesday.
'The three Foreign Ministers reaffirmed trilateral cooperation as a vital platform to promote regional security and economic connectivity,' the Pakistani ministry said. 'They discussed enhancing diplomatic engagement, strengthening communications, and taking practical steps to boost trade, infrastructure, and development as key drivers of shared prosperity.'
Islamabad and Beijing have also agreed to expand China's global infrastructure development program, the Belt and Road Initiative, to Afghanistan through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).Earlier this month, the Taliban-led Afghan government issued a statement through its Interior Ministry, calling for 'mutual respect and constructive engagement' with both Pakistan and China.
Before Wednesday's trilateral meeting, Dar held separate talks with Wang, in which the Chinese Foreign Minister called Pakistan an 'iron-clad friend' and 'all-weather strategic partner.'
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, and industrialization, in addition to maintaining regular communication. China had said on Tuesday that it supports Pakistan in defending its 'national sovereignty and territorial integrity.'Pakistan's overtures towards China and Afghanistan come in the wake of a brief military confrontation with India that ended in a ceasefire on May 10. During the four-day clash in South Asia in May, Beijing, which has traditionally enjoyed warm relations with Islamabad, had called on both sides to de-escalate.
Hours before India and Pakistan agreed to the ceasefire, Wang called Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and expressed hope that New Delhi and Islamabad 'would remain calm and restrained, properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation and avoid escalating the situation.'
On Monday, an official from a think tank affiliated with the Indian Defense Ministry told Bloomberg that China had provided Pakistan with air defense and satellite support during the recent military standoff in South Asia.Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, Member of the CPC Political Bureau & Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, held an informal trilateral meeting in… pic.twitter.com/xbVcmUDijD
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Russia Today
Where China stands on the Israel–Iran conflict
Israel is once again redefining the rules of engagement. Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Tel Aviv has carried out attacks on Iran with little regard for international law or global opinion. Framing these strikes as preemptive measures against Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions, the Israeli government is echoing the same kind of narrative Washington used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq – claims of weapons of mass destruction that turned out to be unfounded. Beijing sees this ongoing vilification of Iran – driven by both the US and Israel – as dangerous narrative warfare that could lay the groundwork for a broader military conflict. In response, China has taken a clear and firm stance. The Foreign Ministry condemned repeated violations of Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as actions that risk inflaming tensions across the region. Chinese officials have voiced deep concern about the fallout from the Israeli military operations, calling instead for diplomatic and political solutions. Escalation, they warn, serves no one. Beijing has also expressed a willingness to help de-escalate the situation. China reinforced this position at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Ambassador Fu Cong denounced what he called Israel's 'military adventurism,' linking it to the ongoing occupation of Gaza – a crisis he described as a 'humanitarian disaster.' While not directly naming the US, Fu's comments implicitly urged Washington to rein in Israeli aggression before the situation spirals further out of control. Over the weekend, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone with his counterparts in both Iran and Israel. The tone of these two conversations could not have been more different. Speaking with Iran's Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Wang condemned what he called Israel's 'reckless attacks,' warning that strikes on nuclear facilities set a dangerous and unacceptable precedent. He emphasized that such actions violate both the UN Charter and basic principles of international law. In a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Wang took a more restrained but still critical tone, urging Israel to abandon military solutions and return to diplomacy. In this unfolding crisis, China has made its position unmistakably clear: it backs Iran's stance and rejects any military path to resolving the nuclear issue. This aligns with Beijing's long-held diplomatic posture – recognizing Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while firmly opposing any move toward nuclear weapons, which would violate international norms and run counter to China's vision of a nuclear-free Middle East. Nevertheless, Iran has repeatedly asserted that it does not seek nuclear weapons. It supported the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which collapsed after the United States unilaterally withdrew under President Donald Trump. With Trump's return to the White House, fears were growing that he would once again elevate the Iranian nuclear issue, threatening military action unless Tehran complies with US demands. China and Russia both oppose such unilateral dictate. In March, Beijing hosted a trilateral meeting of Chinese, Iranian, and Russian deputy foreign ministers to reaffirm support for a multilateral, JCPOA-based resolution and denounce illegal sanctions on Iran. In March, Beijing hosted a trilateral meeting with deputy foreign ministers from China, Iran, and Russia, reaffirming their commitment to a multilateral solution rooted in the JCPOA and denouncing illegal sanctions imposed on Iran. China's diplomatic support is part of a broader strategic alignment with Iran. In 2021, the two countries signed a 25-year cooperation agreement covering trade, infrastructure, energy, technology, defense, education, and more – effectively exchanging long-term economic collaboration for a stable oil supply. Despite ongoing US sanctions, China remains Iran's top trading partner and largest buyer of crude oil, purchasing as much as 90% of Iran's exports. The two nations also conduct joint military exercises, such as the Marine Security Belt drills with Russia, launched in 2019. This partnership reflects Iran's 'Look East' strategy, first introduced by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Focused on deepening ties with China and Russia, the strategy has yielded tangible results, including joint initiatives and Iran's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023. Yet the relationship isn't without friction. Unfulfilled investment promises, sanctions-related challenges, and mismatched expectations have at times strained the partnership. China seeks stable access to resources and expanded regional influence, while Iran looks for meaningful economic support and advanced technology. Still, China's backing of Iran is not without limits. If Tehran were to block the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for over 25% of global oil and one-third of LNG shipments – China's economic interests would be directly threatened. Likewise, a withdrawal from the NPT would challenge China's commitment to multilateralism and the international legal order. A closer economic and military alignment between Tehran and Beijing could also strain already fraught relations with Washington, especially if it involved significant arms deals. Beijing has no appetite for open confrontation. China prefers to cast itself as a responsible global actor, committed to diplomacy and de-escalation. That image is central to its expanding footprint in the Middle East. Its role in brokering the 2023 rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia was a milestone, but its influence over Tehran remains limited. As a relatively new player in regional diplomacy, China's interests are vulnerable not only to Israeli aggression but also to potential missteps by Iran. So far, Iran's response has been relatively restrained – perhaps deliberately so. But that caution could be misread as weakness. Following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in May 2024, Iran's leadership has moved slightly closer to engaging with the West. That shift was followed by a wave of Israeli operations: damaging strikes against Hezbollah and Hamas, expanded Israeli presence in Syria, and in October, a direct hit to Iran's missile and air defense systems, potentially paving the way for future attacks. Tehran's muted reaction to these provocations may have been an effort to avoid war – but it risks emboldening its adversaries. For both Beijing and Moscow – each navigating its own rivalry with Washington – the lesson is clear: in today's geopolitical landscape, hesitation can be more dangerous than defiance.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
This country is the missing piece in Russia's multipolar dream
India is still in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, in which it watched as China actively supported Pakistan with hardware, intelligence and command and control, and global narrative building. China and India have had military showdowns on their borders every few years. The US-led NATO bloc is openly supporting Ukraine against Russia. As an adversary of the Americans, China has been tacitly backing Russia, while India, in its desire not to antagonize the US, has chosen a neutral stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Russia is not exactly enthused about this. China, and to a lesser extent Russia, are not happy with India becoming active in the Quad, a visibly anti-China grouping of India, the US, Japan, and Australia. Much to India's chagrin, Russia continues to engage with Pakistan, which it considers geographically important to safeguard its interests in Central Asia, but also to remind India to not get too close with the US. With India already the fourth-largest economy and among the fastest growing, both Russia and China have an interest in continuing to engage with it. If Russia can woo India away from the West, then Russia-India-China (RIC) can become an important bloc. The combined GDP – adjusted for purchasing power parity – of China (19.6%), India (8.23%), and Russia (3.48%) currently amounts to 31.31%. The economic influence of BRICS nations exceeds that of the G7. In 2025, RIC accounted for 37% of the global population. RIC is among the top 2025 global defense spenders after the US ($895 billion), with China ($266 billion), Russia ($126 billion), and India ($77 billion). In 2025, NATO member states spent $1.5 trillion on defense, which was 55% of global military expenditure. NATO is practically opposing only one country, Russia. Against this backdrop, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed in May Moscow's strong interest in reviving the Russia-India-China trilateral dialogue, citing improved India-China border ties. Russia accuses the West of trying to promote friction between India and China. RIC is an informal trilateral strategic grouping, originally conceptualized by Russia in the late 1990s as a counterbalance to Western dominance. It was the brainchild of former Russian Prime Minister Evgeny Primakov. Over the years, it has facilitated over 20 ministerial-level meetings, fostering cooperation in foreign policy, economics, & security among the three nations. The grouping comprises the three largest Eurasian countries, which occupy over 19% of the global landmass. All three are nuclear powers & Russia and China are permanent members of the UN Security Council. All three countries are also members of BRICS, the G20, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. RIC opposes unilateralism and supports the idea of a multipolar global governance model. It offers an alternative perspective on global issues, advocating for equity and reforms in global institutions. The grouping supports Eurasian integration through projects such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Eurasian Economic Union. For India, the RIC format presents both opportunities and challenges. As India prioritizes strategic autonomy, it must balance opportunities in RIC and avoid being locked into any single camp, whether Western or non-Western. The grouping faced a major setback and became dormant after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes between India and China. The ongoing border disputes and lack of trust between India and China remain a challenge. India's growing ties with the West and its role in the Quad also complicate engagement with the RIC grouping. Russia's growing closeness with China, especially in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, might also raise concerns in India about the impartiality of the RIC platform. Moscow has been reaching out to Beijing and New Delhi to ease the situation on the border. A thaw took place when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia in October 2024. There have been 18 meetings of RIC foreign ministers. The last in-person meeting was held in Osaka on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in 2019. It was just the third such meeting in 12 years. The last ministerial-level RIC meeting was held online in November 2021. In Osaka, the three leaders spoke on the international situation, both the challenges on the economic side and of peace and stability. They stressed the need to strengthen the international system led by the UN. They also stressed the need to promote a multipolar world, a world in which there are many centers of influence and stability. Terrorism as a global scourge was discussed. To promote trilateral cooperation, more specific areas needed to be evolved. India has become a key partner of the US in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, in an effort to address China's rising power. But the recent trade and tariff war may cast a negative shadow on the broader US-India strategic ties. It is no coincidence that the idea to push the RIC format has come amid these difficulties between the US and India. Speaking at a security conference in Perm on May 29, Lavrov declared that 'the time has come' to bring back the RIC mechanism, citing signs of deescalation in India-China border tensions. While trying to push multilateralism, each country has to defend their national interests. Undoubtedly, Russia has a strong and genuine interest in strengthening RIC. But will strengthening it help New Delhi manage American tariffs? India's balance of payments with both RIC partners is also very unfavorable. If RIC becomes an anti-US group, it will not be good for China either, as its economy largely depends on trade with the West. Can the scope of RIC be expanded, with foreign policy, economic, trade, and financial agencies of the three countries working more closely together, with greater give-and-take on minerals, rare-earths, microchips, and other technologies? The growing Sino-Indian rivalry is expected to limit the range of issues in which members will be able to find consensus. Are RIC members ready for substantial military exercises between them without significant distrust? The answer is no. India wants Russia to join the Indo-Pacific initiative to signal that it's not just a US-centric plan. India's focus on economic links with the Russian Far East and activation of a Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor may help persuade Russia that its interests in the Pacific are compatible with India's interest in diluting Chinese dominance in the Indo-Pacific; this also accords with Putin's concept of a Greater Eurasia. Some analysts believe that by imposing harsh tariffs, the US is pushing New Delhi into Beijing's lap. Would RIC tend towards becoming an anti-American alliance? As India prioritizes strategic autonomy, it would prefer to balance opportunities in RIC and avoid being locked into any single camp. The RIC countries, with important influence at international and regional levels and emerging market economies, need to further strengthen practical coordination on global and regional issues in the spirit of openness, solidarity, mutual understanding, and trust. Notwithstanding the bilateral asymmetries, India and China have no choice but to engage bilaterally and multilaterally on a range of issues, even while firmly protecting their own interests. China, India's leading trade partner, has a significant role indeed in driving the Indian economy and creating high-quality manufacturing jobs, which is of course a sensitive political issue. Chinese analysts have taken note of a recent shift in the Indian policy to attract more Chinese investment. The Chinese economy is heavily dependent on the American market. Some understanding on trade between the US and China will emerge sooner rather than later. This will also have dynamics for RIC – and with America's global standing dipping a little, there could be a shift in the years ahead. Russia's call to revive the RIC format reflects its strategic intent to bolster regional cooperation and counterbalance Western influence. It is in Russia's interests to be a facilitator in India-China relations. Lavrov has flagged this issue now, before Russian President Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit to India this year. Lavrov believes that a strengthened RIC will give India greater leverage to resist Western pressure and maintain strategic autonomy. Partnering with the two most populous countries gives Russia strength. The success of this trilateral initiative will depend on the political will of all three nations to navigate complex geopolitical dynamics and prioritize mutual interests. Perhaps the time has come for Primakov's idea that the RIC triangle should become the symbol of the multipolar world and its core. There are contradictions in the RIC format that the US will continue to exploit. But the same is true for many other groupings. For RIC to succeed, India is a key player, and its sensitivities about China have to be assuaged. China has to pull back on its support for Pakistan and stop using Pakistan's aerospace, nuclear, and missile build-up as leverage against India. Taking part in RIC will be an opportunity for India to showcase its strategic autonomy to a global audience and send a message to Washington, which has repeatedly expressed its displeasure over India's close ties with Russia.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Putin and Xi discuss Middle East crisis
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that Moscow is ready to help mediate between Iran and Israel, the Kremlin said after their phone call on Thursday, which focused on the worsening conflict in the Middle East. The conversation, which lasted about an hour, was described as 'friendly and constructive' by Putin's foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov. Moscow and Beijing share 'identical approaches' to the crisis, Ushakov told reporters, adding that both leaders 'strongly condemn Israel's actions, which violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law.' Putin briefed Xi on his recent phone conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held in the aftermath of Israel's strike on Iran last week. The Russian leader reaffirmed Moscow's 'readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, if necessary,' Ushakov said, adding that Xi welcomed the initiative, calling it a step that could help defuse the conflict. 'Both Moscow and Beijing fundamentally believe that there is no military solution to the current situation or to issues related to Iran's nuclear program. This must be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means,' the presidential aide stressed. The two leaders agreed to instruct their respective ministries and agencies to stay in close contact and exchange information in the coming days, he added. Israel launched a major attack on Iran last Friday, targeting nuclear facilities and military sites in airstrikes. Tehran responded with its own attacks on the Jewish state. The escalating conflict has since left at least 639 people dead in Iran and 24 in Israel, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group and Israeli officials. Russia condemned Israel's initial airstrikes and called for de-escalation. Putin also spoke with US President Donald Trump by phone over the weekend, with the two discussing the possibility of reviving negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. Trump reportedly has not ruled out direct military intervention in the conflict. According to CBS, he has approved a potential plan to attack Iran, though no final decision has been made.
