by: Hamid Ahmadzai–
On April 24, Afghanistan’s joint media delegation, during its visit to China, met with various local officials and visited multiple production factories and exhibitions in Zhejiang province and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
As part of these meetings, the delegation visited the Yiwu International Trade Center and the Yiwu-Europe Railway Station. The delegation closely observed the strength of economic and trade cooperation between China and Afghanistan. The Yiwu International Trade Center hosts many foreign merchants daily and is also known as the “World Supermarket.”
The city of Yiwu, located along the “Belt and Road” route, is a significant trade hub connected to more than 230 countries and regions. It has built an international trade network covering Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Latin America.
Nearly 15,000 companies operate in the Yiwu International Trade Center, exporting and importing goods via the China-Europe freight trains. During its trip to Urumqi, the delegation also visited the Xinjiang Grand International Market, where dried and fresh fruits, silk clothing, and various other items are sold.
Furthermore, on April 29, the delegation visited the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, also referred to as the “Cradle of Islam.” The institute houses various Islamic and Arabic language books, totaling around 57,000 volumes.
Fida Mohammad Dost, Head of Planning and Policy at the Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan and a member of the delegation, expressed happiness about the presence of Muslims and the visit to sacred sites, stating that such exchanges help strengthen relations between Afghanistan and China.
Aziz Baryalai, Director of Newspapers at the Ministry of Information and Culture, noted that the city of Xinjiang, where people of various religions live peacefully, reflects China’s optimism for a better future in Asia. He added that alongside economic ties, there is hope for mutual efforts in linguistic and communication channels between Afghanistan and China.
As part of their visit, the delegation also met with representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Urumqi. Both sides regarded the political, economic, and trade relations between Afghanistan and China positively and emphasized strengthening these ties.
During this meeting, Fida Mohammad Dost highlighted China’s support for various countries, including Afghanistan. He stated that the security situation in Afghanistan has improved, creating investment opportunities in different sectors. According to him, China can also invest in Afghanistan.
It is worth mentioning that the city of Urumqi is located on the historic Silk Road and holds great importance in trade and culture. Last year, a similar joint media delegation from Afghanistan also visited China and returned home with a wealth of experience.
