Senior Chinese official visits Afghanistan for first time in 50 years China is increasingly firing all cylinders on its relationship with Afghanistan. The visit comes as foreign governments, including China, battle for access to Afghanistan's natural resources, thought to include vast deposits of coal, copper, iron, gold and oil that the US has estimated at $1 trillion. In 2010 the New York Times cited an internal Pentagon memo claiming Afghanistan might become the "Saudi Arabia of lithium." Few details of Mr Zhou's unannounced trip were reported in China, which shares a 46-mile border with Afghanistan. But business and the exploration of natural resources are likely to have been high on the agenda. A photograph published in state media showed Mr Zhou being greeted by Afghanistan's Minister of Commerce and Industries, Anwar Ul-haq Ahady. Mr Zhou's trip follows a June meeting in Beijing between Hu Jintao, China's president, and Mr Karzai, where Mr Hu reportedly promised "long-term and multifaceted co-operation" to China's "old friend." Mr Pantucci said that while security concerns meant China would "still be quite hesitant" about future investments in Afghanistan, Mr Zhou's visit would strengthen his country's hand there. "It's not just talk," he said. Zhou Yongkang has these connections to natural resources companies [and] China is certainly eyeing the US report that said there were $1 trillion of resources in Afghanistan. By being there first - and on the ground - it will make it easier for them.