China banks on stability with Afghanistan belt and road agreement: experts
- Expansion of US$60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan ‘a win’ for the war-torn country, but China’s yields less certain
- Observers said Beijing will be hoping to reduce instability in the region while building its influence
In a separate foreign ministers’ dialogue on the same day, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to push forward with the belt and road plan’s signature project, marking Kabul’s recruitment to China’s ambitious plans for the region.
The three countries agreed that the US$60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be extended into Afghanistan, as part of the scheme to promote economic cooperation and connectivity along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.
Observers said the decision to expand the belt and road plan – often viewed as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s flagship infrastructure initiative – into Afghanistan would be a win for the conflict-torn, investment-hungry country.
But they were also sceptical of the economic yields that China could reap, suggesting instead that the development should be viewed through the lens of Beijing’s desire to maintain stability in the region while building its influence.