BEIJING – China on Thursday said it was pleased to handle the Afghan-boundtransit cargo by Gwadar port as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) wasnot only beneficial for both the countries but also for the regionalconnectivity and economic cooperation.
“We have noted the report. And we are pleased over new progress achieved byGwadar port,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Geng Shuang saidwhile responding to a question asked by APP during his regular briefingheld here.
Gwadar Port, a key component of CPEC, has started handling transit cargoand the first Afghan shipment arrived this week.
“We support the Gwadar port in playing a big role in promoting regionalgoods and trade cooperation,” he said.
According to reports, the shipment will be loaded on trucks and sent toAfghanistan through the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman.
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Afghanistan has relied on Pakistani land routes as well as its ports forinternational trade after a bilateral agreement, known as the AfghanTransit Trade Agreement (ATTA), signed with Islamabad.
The strategically-located Gwadar port became operational in 2016 after theChinese investment. The deep seaport offers a shorter overland link toAfghanistan, particularly to southern regions of the country.
