Over 2,000 years ago, the Chinese envoy Zhang Qian undertook his mission to travel to the Western Regions and opened up the Silk Road linking Europe, Asia and Africa, establishing the traditional friendship between China and Afghanistan, and opening up an era of great exchange in the history of human civilization. For thousands of years, the friendship, mutual cultural exchanges and trade among the peoples along the Silk Road have continued, forming the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and appreciation, and mutual benefit, which has been passed down to this day and contributed greatly to the prosperity and development of the countries along the Silk Road, and becomes a valuable heritage of human civilization.
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in order to make closer economic ties between countries, deeper mutual cooperation and broader development prospect. With the joint efforts of all parties, the BRI has become a popular international public product and international cooperation platform in the past 10 years. China’s circle of friends continues to expand, and practical cooperation with other countries continues to advance in depth, injecting new momentum into the economic development of all countries. China’s practice of promoting the high-quality development of the BRI shows that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a maintainer of international order and a provider of public goods.
Over the past 10 years, the BRI has been gradually turning from an idea into actions and from vision into reality, bearing productive results. According to statistics, China has signed more than 200 BRI cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations. The BRI has stimulated nearly trillion dollars of investment, formed more than 3,000 cooperation projects, created 420,000 jobs for countries along the route, and lifted nearly 40 million people out of poverty. China’s trade in goods with BRI countries doubled from 1.04 trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to 2.07 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 8%. At the same time, China’s policy communication with BRI countries and regions has been deepened, facilities connectivity strengthened, trade flows enhanced, financial flows expanded and people-to-people exchanges promoted.
Afghanistan has always been supporting the BRI and signed a memorandum of understanding with China on BRI cooperation. Support and investment from China have greatly promoted Afghanistan’s economic development and social construction.
In the past two years, China has been actively promoting practical cooperation with Afghanistan in various fields. We have expanded the import of Afghan pine nuts and other high-quality agricultural products through the opening of the “Pine Nut Air Corridor” to help Afghan pine farmers increase their income. Through the coordination and cooperation mechanism of Afghanistan’s neighbors, we have forged a consensus among regional countries to help Afghanistan strengthen connectivity construction and fully unleash its geopolitical advantages and integrate into regional cooperation. More than 30 projects of the Tunxi Initiative of the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan on Supporting Economic Reconstruction in and Practical Cooperation with Afghanistan in March last year are steadily progressing. In December last year, China granted zero‑tariff treatment to 98% of taxable imports from Afghanistan, effectively helping Afghanistan enhance its independent development capacity. China has also provided more than 350 million RMB in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, sending much-needed food, medicine, winter clothing and earthquake relief supplies to Afghan people. At present, the implementation of more aid projects are under discussion between the two governments to benefit Afghan people’s livelihoods.
As an amicable neighbor and sincere friend of Afghanistan, China has demonstrated the justice and responsibility of a responsible power. At this critical juncture when Afghanistan is striving for its prosperity, China also express its full of expectation and confidence in the future development of Afghanistan. China is willing to work with the Afghanistan, continue to actively promote the docking of BRI with the Afghan development strategy, extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. The BRI will bring more opportunities for Afghanistan’s economic reconstruction and prosperous development, and bring more tangible benefits to the people of Afghanistan.
