Afghanistan and China Establish Joint Working Group to Enhance Trade

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that Afghanistan and China have agreed to establish a joint working group to expand trade relations.

This agreement was reached during a meeting between Nooruddin Azizi, acting minister of industry and commerce, and Zhao Xing, Chinese ambassador in Kabul. The two sides also discussed increasing exports, reducing transit costs, and facilitating direct exports to China.

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told TOLOnews: “As a result of these discussions, both parties agreed to create a joint working group to enhance coordination, expand trade relations, and provide necessary facilities, and to hold regular meetings.”

Discussions also focused on increasing Afghanistan’s exports to China, particularly pine nuts, pomegranates, precious stones, and minerals.

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment said Chinese markets are suitable for selling Afghan products.

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Mirzaman Popal, acting head of administration and finance at the chamber, told TOLOnews: “If some MOUs are signed with China and the transfer process is facilitated—especially for agricultural products like pine nuts (already agreed upon), pomegranates, cantaloupe, and dried fruits—profits will exceed those from other countries.”

Some experts, considering China as one of the world’s major economic powers, emphasized the need for Afghanistan to expand its economic ties with the country.

“China is a good market for us. On the other hand, if we invite the Chinese to invest in several sectors such as infrastructure, mining, and energy, it would be vital for us since we lack infrastructure and energy, and our mines are currently being extracted in an unorganized and substandard manner,” said Mohammad Nabi Afghan, an economic affairs expert.

Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, China has been among the countries that have increased their economic relations with Afghanistan. As a result, some Chinese companies have invested in various Afghan mines, including copper, gold, and oil.

This news is sourced from [Tolo News] and is for informational purposes only.