At the recently-concluded Afghanistan-Hunan Minerals Promotion Expo held in Changsha, Hunan province, Afghanistan's Deputy Minister of Mining and Petroleum Mowlvi Hussam Uddin Sabiri said collaboration between Afghanistan and China could spur economic development for both nations.

While delivering a keynote speech, he emphasized Afghanistan's rich mineral resources, highlighting the significant potential for mutually beneficial partnerships in the mining sector.

Highlighting the growing economic and industrial ties between Afghanistan and China, the event drew over 20 Afghan delegates, including senior government officials, leading mine owners and representatives from the mining sector, alongside Chinese participants from across the country.

A key outcome of the expo was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two nations, marking a formal commitment to explore new opportunities for joint ventures and investment.

Representing Afghanistan in this milestone agreement, Mansour Ahmandzai, director of the Afghan Association of Industries and Mining, expressed his enthusiasm for the future Sino-Afghan cooperation, saying the expo opens a new chapter for such co-operation.

In an interview, he highlighted Afghanistan's abundant reserves of valuable minerals, including copper, lithium, gold and rare earth elements, much of which remain untapped due to decades of internal conflict.

He noted that Afghanistan's recent stability has created a favorable environment for foreign investment and identified China as an ideal partner, given its expertise and need for natural resources.

The director encouraged foreign investors to collaborate with local Afghan firms, suggesting joint ventures as an effective model to leverage local knowledge and international technology.

He described the expo as a testament to Afghanistan's potential to become a major supplier of minerals to the global market.

The event generated strong interest, with discussions pointing to potential investments nearing $1 billion.

As the expo concluded, the director extended an open invitation to global investors to participate in Afghanistan's economic reconstruction, reaffirming its readiness to establish long-term, mutually beneficial collaborations.