China brings Pakistan Afghanistan together with a request to Afghan Taliban
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ISLAMABAD - Chinese Foreign Minister in a joint press conference held after the meeting between the foreign ministers, said that China "aims to help create a favourable environment between Pakistan and Afghanistan".
Yi highlighted the close relationship between China and Pakistan, saying that both countries were "all-weather friends and important strategic partners".
He further said that "as a friend of both countries, China is making every effort to build confidence between Pakistan and Afghanistan."
The Chinese foreign minister declared that China will assist both countries in the provision of clean drinking water and building infrastructure, including the construction of a rail network to connect Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Addressing the Afghan crisis, Yi said: "In order to further the process of reconciliation, [Afghan] Taliban will have to be ushered to the dialogue table." The Chinese foreign minister further said that war was not a solution to any problem.
"We urge the [Afghan] Taliban to take advantage of this chance for peace and hold negotiations," Yi said.
Qureshi thanked China for its role in "bringing Afghanistan and Pakistan closer". He added that the ball was now in Afghanistan's court as it has to decide which route they wished to take in order to achieve peace.
