The administration of the Taliban has expressed a keen interest in officially becoming a part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's extensive 'Belt and Road' infrastructure initiative, and they intend to dispatch a technical delegation to China for negotiations, as stated by Afghanistan's Acting Commerce Minister on Thursday.
Even though the international community has not officially recognized the Taliban-led government since it took control in 2021, Beijing has been working on fostering relations with the Afghan administration.
In the preceding month, China achieved a notable milestone by appointing its ambassador to Kabul, becoming the first nation to do so, while other countries have either retained their previous ambassadors or assigned heads of mission in a charge d'affaires capacity without formally presenting their credentials to the government.
The Acting Commerce Minister, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, informed Reuters in an interview the day after the Belt and Road Forum concluded in Beijing, "We reached out to China to seek inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative. Currently, we are in discussions regarding technical matters."
The Pakistan "economic corridor" mentioned here pertains to a pivotal segment of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) situated in Afghanistan's neighboring country.
Azizi further indicated that the Afghan administration would dispatch a technical delegation to China to facilitate a more comprehensive comprehension of the impediments hindering their participation in the initiative. However, he refrained from delving into the specific challenges that Afghanistan is facing in this regard.
Afghanistan holds significant potential for China due to its abundant and highly sought-after mineral resources. A number of Chinese companies are already operating in Afghanistan, including the Metallurgical Corp. of China Ltd (MCC), which has conducted discussions with both the Taliban-led administration and the previous Western-backed government concerning the development of a potentially massive copper mine.
Azizi emphasized, "China, a global investor, should consider investing in Afghanistan. We possess resources of utmost importance to them, such as lithium, copper, and iron." He added that Afghanistan is now more prepared than ever to welcome investments.
With regard to the talks with MCC, Azizi acknowledged that they had experienced delays due to the copper mine's proximity to a historical site; nonetheless, the negotiations are ongoing. He also expressed support for the substantial investment made by the Chinese company.
Investors have voiced concerns regarding security, especially since the Islamic State terrorist group has targeted foreign embassies and a hotel frequently visited by Chinese investors in Kabul.
In response to these security challenges, Azizi underscored the Taliban-led government's commitment to prioritizing security. He emphasized that with the conclusion of the 20-year war – which concluded when foreign forces withdrew and the Taliban assumed control – many regions in the country have become safe.
Azizi also highlighted that it is now feasible to travel to regions hosting industries, agriculture, and mining operations that were previously inaccessible. He expressed confidence in the government's ability to ensure security.
On a separate note, Afghanistan, along with 34 other nations, reached an agreement to collaborate on matters concerning the digital economy and green development during discussions held on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum.
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