IEA’s envoy meets China’s foreign ministry official, discusses Afghan prisoners

The ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in Beijing, Asadullah Bilal Karimi, on Friday met with the Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong and discussed the issue of Afghan prisoners among others.

According to a statement issued by the Afghan Embassy in Beijing, Karimi emphasized that security is ensured throughout Afghanistan and there is a good opportunity for Chinese companies to invest in Afghanistan in infrastructure, highways, energy and other sectors.

He stated that the Wakhan Corridor could be a key transit and trade route between the two countries, and expressed hope that both sides would speed up efforts to open the route.

Karimi said that the officials of the Islamic Emirate are ready to cooperate with the officials of the MCC company for starting practical work on Mes Aynak copper mine project.

The envoy emphasized that security of the region is related to the security of Afghanistan and the Islamic Emirate considers security, peace and stability important and vital for its own country and wants stability in the neighboring countries as well.

Karimi added that the four-decade war in Afghanistan has come to an end, drug addiction, corruption and many other problems have been stopped, and Afghanistan does not pose any threat, nor would the IEA allow this to happen.

According to the statement, the Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong reiterated China’s commitment not to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs and respect Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, and called the IEA’s efforts in the field of security important.

Liu said that it is also important that there is no problem in the relations between China and Afghanistan and efforts to stabilize relations should continue.

The Chinese official also said that he will encourage Chinese companies to invest in various fields in Afghanistan and expressed hope that the ground will be paved for the start of practical work on Mes Aynak copper project.