Afghanistan and China have discussed expanding development cooperation and infrastructure projects, with a focus on the Wakhan Corridor road linking the two countries, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development said.

According to the ministry, Acting Minister Abdul Latif Mansoor met with China’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing, and his delegation in Kabul to review ongoing cooperation and future development initiatives.

During the meeting, Zhao expressed satisfaction over the completion of the Wakhan Corridor road project in Badakhshan province, saying China has implemented major infrastructure and development projects in Afghanistan to high standards.

He said Beijing intends to continue future projects in close coordination with the Islamic Emirate and reaffirmed China’s commitment to ongoing cooperation and development assistance for Afghanistan.

Minister Mansoor welcomed the Chinese delegation and thanked China for its continued support and collaboration with Afghanistan.

He said Afghanistan has historically maintained land and trade links with neighboring countries, but China had remained the only neighboring state without a direct land connection to Afghanistan.

According to Mansoor, the completion of the Wakhan Corridor road has now established a land link between the two countries, while remaining construction work on the route is continuing at a rapid pace.

The minister added that the road project has been widely welcomed by the Afghan public and called on China to further expand cooperation in infrastructure and development projects, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

The ministry said both sides emphasized the importance of continued coordination and cooperation at the conclusion of the meeting.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has emphasized the importance of stability in Afghanistan as part of Kyrgyzstan’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

In a message to world leaders ahead of the June 2026 UN vote, Zhaparov said the security of Central Asia is closely tied to the situation in Afghanistan and stated that Bishkek would give special attention to Afghan issues if elected to the council.

The Kyrgyz president said his country has continued providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, including support for women and children, while also backing Afghanistan’s gradual economic and political integration into the international community.

Zhaparov described the current global environment as increasingly unstable, citing conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, growing geopolitical competition and what he called a weakening of international law.

He argued that smaller and landlocked nations remain underrepresented in the Security Council and said Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy seeks to promote more balanced and inclusive representation within the United Nations.

According to Zhaparov, Kyrgyzstan would pursue an independent and balanced policy on the council focused on reducing global polarization, strengthening preventive diplomacy and encouraging peaceful solutions to international disputes.

The president also highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s role in maintaining regional stability, saying border delimitation issues with neighboring Central Asian countries had been resolved peacefully through negotiations.

Zhaparov further reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to nuclear disarmament, climate security and international cooperation, adding that the country supports sustainable development initiatives aimed at protecting the environment from “mountains to the ocean.”

He noted that Kyrgyzstan’s bid for a Security Council seat has received unanimous support from Central Asian countries, which he described as a sign of growing regional unity.

The election for new non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to take place in New York City on June 3, 2026.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says work on the TAPI Pipeline is accelerating as pipes and technical equipment continue arriving through Turkmenbashi Port.

According to the ministry, Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri visited the port during his trip to Turkmenistan to inspect the transportation process for pipeline materials and equipment destined for Afghanistan.

The ministry said construction work on the Herat section of the project is progressing steadily, with major developments reported in several phases of the pipeline route.

Officials stated that 63 kilometers of pipeline have already been installed inside Afghanistan, while preparations for an additional 125-kilometer stretch have been completed to allow further expansion work.

The ministry added that nearly 51 kilometers of pipes have so far been transported from abroad to project sites within Afghanistan.

According to officials, implementation of the project has gained momentum in recent months, with workers currently welding around 500 meters of pipeline each day.

The TAPI pipeline is regarded as one of the region’s largest energy infrastructure projects and is intended to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.