China has gained potential access to millions of barrels of oil after it won approval for oil exploration and extraction in Afghanistan.
The country's cabinet approved a deal to allow China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to develop oil blocks in the Amu Darya Basin.
The basin is estimated to hold around 87 million barrels of oil.
The deal comes as China is looking to expand its oil resources in wake of a growing domestic demand.
"The Afghan cabinet has ordered mines minister Wahidullah Shahrani to sign an oil exploration contract for Amu Darya with China National Petroleum Corporation," Afghanistan president's office said in a statement.
