Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the first joint virtual conference with his counterparts in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal on Monday, during which he proposed a four-point plan to contain the new coronavirus pandemic, spurring economic recovery. and the resumption of BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) infrastructure projects.
Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali attended the virtual meeting, according to a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi did not participate in the meeting. Pakistan was represented by the Minister for Economic Affairs, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar.
Addressing the meeting, which is the first to involve all four countries, Mr. Wang proposed the four-point action plan that includes consolidating consensus on unity and fighting the pandemic, avoiding politicization and stigmatization. of the coronavirus and strongly support the World Health Organization (WHO) in playing its due role in building the global health community together.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), severing ties with the global health body despite the furious pandemic of coronavirus in the country.
The United States accused the WHO of siding with China in the coronavirus outbreak, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, alleging that the health agency deceived the world and killed more than half million people worldwide, including more than 146,000 in the United States alone
Mr. Wang said the four countries should carry out regional cooperation for the joint prevention and control of the pandemic, drawing on the experience of China and Pakistan, according to the press release.
He said that when the Chinese vaccine is developed, China will improve the accessibility of vaccines to all three countries and help them strengthen their public health systems.
Significantly, also proposed after the pandemic, the four countries should resolutely support the joint development of the China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by promoting the resumption of work and the production of key cooperation projects, maintaining the stability of industrial and supply chains, and create new points of economic growth in the digital field.
"We will actively promote the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Trans-Himalayan Connectivity Network (THCN), support the extension of the corridor to Afghanistan, and further unleash the dividends on regional connectivity," said Wang.
BRI is a multi-billion dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. His goal is to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
While the $ 60 billion CPEC is BRI's flagship project, for which India has protested to China as it establishes itself through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), the THCN aims to connect Nepal and China through from Tibet.
"We should take advantage of our geographical advantages, strengthen exchanges and connectivity between the four countries and the countries of Central Asia, and safeguard regional peace and stability," said Wang.
His comments gain importance as it emerged amid border tensions between India and China. Pakistan and Nepal are also actively involved in the construction of large infrastructure projects under CPEC and THCN, which is of great concern in New Delhi.
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