Karzai meets China leaders amid security concerns

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is meeting with Chinese leaders amid security threats in the war-torn nation that have stymied a massive copper mine development by a Chinese consortium.

The situation at the Aynak mine south of Kabul was expected to feature prominently in Karzai's talks today with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

A Chinese consortium led by China Metallurgical Group Corporation bid USD 3 billion to develop the mine, promising also to build a power plant, railway and other infrastructure.

Six years later, work has yet to start, largely because of Taliban insurgent activity in surrounding Logar province.
 

The consortium is now seeking to renegotiate terms of the contract. Afghanistan's ravaged economy badly needs the jobs and investment.

Training and equipping Afghan security forces were also on the agenda.