The Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during his visit to China met with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and both underscored the need for the international community to provide continued assistance to Afghanistan including releasing its overseas financial assets, a joint statement said.

“The two sides agreed to continue their humanitarian and economic assistance for the Afghan people and enhance development cooperation in Afghanistan, including through CPEC’s extension to Afghanistan,” the statement reads.

The Ministry of Economy said that regional cooperation, particularly with China and Pakistan, is important for Afghan economic development.

“Afghanistan is a hub for the region’s security. The regional cooperation, including the cooperation by China and Pakistan, can be effective for economic growth for Afghanistan and region,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy Minister of Economy.

The Ministry of Finance said that the Afghan traders are facing challenges due to the freezing of the Afghan assets.

“The restrictions which exist in banks—due to which our traders cannot send money abroad or cannot transfer it into the country—all of these problems are because of the freeze of assets,” said Ahmad Wali Haqmal, a spokesman for the MoF.

“China can invest in various sectors in Afghanistan and this investment can provide job opportunities for the people of Afghanistan, and also Afghanistan can gain millions of dollars through these investments,” said Abdul Naseer Rishtia, an economist.

Earlier, Russian and Iran as well as some other world countries called on the US to release the Afghan assets which are frozen in New York banks and Europe.