China hosting third meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reached China on Tuesday night to attend a regional dialogue on Afghanistan.
Qureshi and his delegation were received by Pakistan’s Ambassador in Beijing Moin-ul-Haq upon arrival at Huangshan International Airport in China. Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq are accompanying the foreign minister.
Qureshi is in China to attend the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries in Tunxi, east China’s Anhui Province, on March 30-31.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting which will be attended by foreign ministers and representatives of Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
“The meeting will help build consensus among the neighbors on the issue of Afghanistan, discuss how to promote stability in the country and support its people”, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of the Afghan interim government is also attending the summit while foreign ministers of Indonesia and Qatar have been invited to participate.
Besides attending the Neighbouring Countries Ministerial meeting, Pakistan’s foreign minister will also hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from participating countries, particularly China and Russia.
“Pakistan fully supports a regional approach on Afghanistan for promoting durable peace and stability in the region. Pakistan will continue to support the international community’s efforts to advance the shared objectives of a peaceful, stable, sovereign, prosperous and connected Afghanistan,” according to a statement released by Pakistan foreign office.
Pakistan had initiated Afghanistan’s neighboring countries’ dialogue format in September 2021 and hosted the first meeting of the Foreign Ministers of neighboring countries on September 8, 2021. The second meeting was held in Iran on October 27, 2021.