Pak PM's Afghan visit 'important step' to improve strained ties: China

China today welcomed the fence-mending visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to Afghanistan, terming it as an "important step" to improve the strained ties between the two neighbours.

China is promoting a trilateral approach with Pakistan and Afghanistan, and encouraging both of them to bury their differences over the Taliban as it seeks to connect its ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with Kabul.

Abbasi's "visit is an important step for improving the relations between the two countries. It demonstrates firm resolution of the two country to enhance dialogue and cooperation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here today.

During Abbasi's day-long visit to Afghanistan on Friday, the two sides agreed to take action against fugitives and the irreconcilable militants under a bilateral agreement for regional peace and security.

Geng said that China noticed that the two countries reached a consensus on the Afghan peace process.

Without directly referring to the CPEC, which is opposed by India as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Geng said Pakistan and Afghanistan amity "enhance regional connectivity".

"China highly appreciates and firmly supports it (Abbasi's visit). This is conducive to the early achievement of peace in Afghanistan and also conducive peace and development," he said.

"As a neighbour and friend of Pakistan and Afghanistan, China is willing to play a constructive role in improving relation between the two counties and actively promoting China, Pakistan and Afghanistan trilateral cooperation," he said.

China for the first time held trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries here in December last where it proposed the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan much to the disquiet of India.

A study report titled Asian Competitiveness Annual Report 2018 released yesterday on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia in China's Boao city said CPEC the "flagship" project of the Belt and Road Initiative is being extended to Afghanistan.

"CPEC a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, has not only improved local infrastructure but also is extending toward Afghanistan, reducing poverty, the hotbed of terrorism, and bringing better prospects for local people's lives," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying.