• CPEC: Foreign Ministers of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan holdd discussion focus on regional development, extension of CPEC to Afghanistan.

• China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, Visits South Asia for Peace Building

• By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia

Islamabad: The Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue was held on 20 August 2025 in Kabul between Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Foreign Minister of China, and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, focusing on political, economic and security cooperation.

The three sides committed to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism. They also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and combating drug trafficking, as well as, extension of CPEC to Afghanistan.

The DPM/FM was accompanied by SAPM/Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, discussions held on enhancing cooperation between the three countries especially in trade, regional connectivity and counter terrorism domain.

The DPM/FM also held a bilateral meeting with the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan to discuss bilateral matters between both countries.

• China’s Foreign Minister on a South Asian Trip

China’s foreign minister, who is on a South Asian trip, arrived in Afghanistan on Aug 20, 2025.

Earlier this week, Wang Yi visited India and is now in Kabul for three-way talks with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mr. Wang’s South Asian trip reflects that China is looking to balance its relations between Pakistan and India.

Mr Wang arrived in Islamabad to attend the annual strategic dialogue in his second visit in three years.

• Afghanistan emphasizes the importance of strengthening political, economic cooperation

According to a statement from Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, the foreign ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening political, economic, and transit relations between the three countries.

Muttaqi told the summit that development and cooperation will allow the three countries to capitalize on regional opportunities in an array of fields.

“This tripartite mechanism gives us the opportunity to do so,” the statement quoted Muttaqi as saying.

• China and Afghanistan signaling interest in more cooperation

Mr. Wang met with Pakistan’s foreign minister, and the Taliban’s acting foreign minister in Beijing in May, 2025, showing China and Afghanistan signaling interest in more cooperation.

The Taliban foreign ministry adding that there is Chinese interest in Afghanistan’s minerals and keenness as well from Beijing that Afghanistan sign up to China’s massive belt and road initiative.

The Chinese spokesperson says that both countries are important neighbors both Pakistan and India. So as a matter of principle, China’s policy is to develop friendly and cooperative relations with both. But of course with no active territorial dispute, China’s relationship with Pakistan is really on a completely different level. While in India, Wangi is seeking to establish stability, dialogue, and deescalation of tensions. But with Pakistan, Wangi is there to reinforce an all-weather partnership.

• China’s strategic partner with Pakistan; CPEC Development

For China. Pakistan is a very important strategic partner. Also, Pakistan can give China an indirect access to the Arabian Sea. Observers note that having Pakistan as a staunch ally in South Asia can also act as a strategic strategic counterweight to India in the region.

As Pakistan is facing mounting security threats on its western borders and Pakistan claims that Afghanistan is providing a safe haven a century to these militant groups who are carrying out uh terrorist activities in Pakistan’s western provinces especially Balojasthan province which is home to significant Chinese investments. And in the past couple of months, a surge in the terrorist activities has been seen in that particular region.

• Wang Yi is going to play an active role in bringing both Pakistan and Afghanistan together

So it’s likely that counterterrorism is going to be uh the center of discussion from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. And China’s foreign minister Wang Yi is going to play an active role in bringing both the countries Pakistan and Afghanistan on one page in order to tackle this growing militancy in Pakistan’s western borders.

Experts say the timing of this visit is very crucial as this visit of China’s foreign minister to Pakistan is coming at a time when the regional geopolitic geopolitics in the South Asian region is changing and both Pakistan and China. So in terms of a sixth uh China Pakistan strategic dialogue, the talks focused on strengthening the defense cooperation as we have seen in July. Also Pakistan’s army chief visited Beijing in which they had discussion about strengthening military ties.

• Expanding China Pakistan Economic Corridor

Apart from this defense cooperation in this strategic dialogue, economic cooperation is also going to be under the discussion in which both the countries are keen to expedite China Pakistan economic corridor phase two, development project launched BRI.