Review of Opportunities and Challenges in China-Afghanistan Relations Post-U.S. Withdrawal

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The relationship between China and Afghanistan has witnessed significant changes over the years, encompassing various political, economic, and security dimensions. Afghanistan's strategic location as a bridge between Central and South Asia holds particular significance for China, serving as a key transit route for infrastructure projects like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and others. Additionally, Afghanistan's rich mineral reserves, including copper, oil, and lithium, are particularly attractive to China, especially for its technology and electronics manufacturing industries. Therefore, despite these attractions, China seeks to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan to enable the country to serve as a reliable economic and trade partner. However, despite the opportunities present in bilateral relations, the unstable security situation in Afghanistan, especially after the withdrawal of international forces, the presence of regional powers like India, Pakistan, and Iran, and their competition for influence in Afghanistan, along with security concerns, represent significant challenges that could impact bilateral relations. This article uses a descriptive library-based method to address the question: What opportunities and challenges exist in China-Afghanistan relations, and how can both countries manage these challenges to capitalize on opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation? It is assumed that China and Afghanistan, by leveraging economic opportunities stemming from Afghanistan's natural resources and joint infrastructure projects, can strengthen their relations, provided both countries manage security challenges and regional competition wisely to ensure the necessary stability for such cooperation.