China, Pakistan to extend CPEC to Afghanistan

China and Pakistan have decided to speed up and extend the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor towards Afghanistan during foreign minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Islamabad, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday.
Wang, designated as China’s top diplomat as he is also the State Councilor—a higher rank in the Chinese political hierarchy —visited Pakistan from 7 to 9 September and held talks with the new government headed by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. His visit was mainly aimed at exchanging views with the new government and compare notes with Pakistan on cooperation in all areas, thus making “our bilateral cooperation to get off under the new circumstances”, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media briefing in Beijing. Asked whether any new economic package by China has been discussed as Pakistan is currently facing serious economic crisis, he said the two sides have agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) towards west to enable more people to benefit from it.
“The two sides will advance the CPEC in the light of Pakistan’s economic and social development and people’s needs. “We will identify the pathways and cooperation for the CPEC. We will accelerate the industrial cooperation and the projects of the people’s livelihoods and extend the CPEC to the western area and make the people get benefits from it,” Geng said.