KABUL — The 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue was held on Dec 15 with security, stability and development taking the center stage.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the dialogue that the three sides have been actively implementing the consensus reached in the first trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue convened in December last year in Beijing, with progress achieved in Afghanistan’s reconciliation process, continuous improvement witnessed in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as well as the connectivity and communication in the region further pressed forward, demonstrating the vitality and the bright future of the cooperation among the three sides.

With the complex and changing regional and international situation, the three sides are facing new challenges and opportunities in their security and development, said Wang, hoping they will further strengthen dialogue and promote mutual trust.

Wang also hoped that the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue will reach new consensus on promoting the realization of the inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned political reconciliation in the country at an early date, strengthening the momentum of the improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, pushing forward the pragmatic cooperation and deepening cooperation in fighting terrorism so as to promote regional security, stability and development.

Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi agreed with Wang’s remarks and highly appreciated the long-term efforts China has been making in promoting the peaceful reconciliation and development in Afghanistan and in encouraging Afghanistan and Pakistan to enhance mutual understanding and improve bilateral relations.

The foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan also fully acknowledged the positive results the three sides have achieved since the first dialogue between the three foreign ministers.

The Afghan and Pakistani sides will maintain the good momentum of improving bilateral relations and faithfully implementing the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, they said.

The two sides said they are willing to work with China to expand trilateral cooperation within the framework of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and push forward the trilateral cooperation on anti-terrorism so as to jointly safeguard the peace, stability and prosperity in the three countries and in the region.

During the dialogue, the three sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on jointly combating terrorism and issued a joint statement.