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Trade route talks between China and Afghanistan

China and Afghanistan have begun initial talks on the chance of opening up an overland trade route that can connect their two countries.

Tom O'Byrne reports the ambitious project was discussed during talks in Beijing.

The foreign minister of the interim administration in Afghanistan, Doctor Abdullah Abdullah, confirmed that the idea of a road linking the Central Asian neighbours was raised during a meeting between China's premier Zhu Rongji and the interim Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai. China has helped build and fund the major trade road into Pakistan the Karakoram Highway, and Afghan rebuilding efforts would need similar trade access, Doctor Abdullah said. The two countries share an extremely remote and short common border along the Karakoram Ranges, and Dr Abdullah says any further talks won't take place until the Chinese embassy re-opens in the Afghan capital Kabul in the next few months. In the interim, China has offered cash and goods to help its neighbour's rebuilding program, but remains wary about the length of time the United States military will remain on its western border.

25/01/2002 4:32:04 AM | ABC Radio Australia News

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