Beijing: Weeks after the Taliban came to power in Kabul, China on Wednesday announced USD 31 million in aid to Afghanistan, backing the insurgent group’s interim government in the war-torn nation.
Announcing aid to Afghanistan, China said it was a “necessary step” to restore order and “end anarchy”.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing would provide 200 million yuan (USD 31 million) worth of food grains, winter supplies, vaccines and medicines to Afghanistan according to the needs of its people, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Stating that China has decided to donate 3 million vaccine doses to the Afghan people in the first batch, he said Beijing is committed to providing more anti-epidemic and emergency materials to Afghanistan under the emergency supply stockpile of China-South Asian countries. ready for
He further said that China will work with other countries in the region to help Afghanistan fight terrorist groups and the illegal drug trade, in addition to helping it rebuild its economy and society.
Wang Yi made the announcement while attending the first meeting of foreign ministers of neighboring countries on Afghanistan, which was called by Pakistan.
Foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Iran participated in the meeting, which was hosted by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin had earlier said that “China attaches importance to the Afghan Taliban’s announcement of the formation of an interim government and certain important roles”, having previously said “it has ended the chaos in Afghanistan that has been going on for three weeks”. and is a necessary step for Afghanistan to restore domestic order and pursue post-war reconstruction”.
Responding to a proposal on the formation of an interim government, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said that China expects “Afghanistan to establish a broad-based and inclusive political structure, adhere to liberal and prudent domestic and foreign policies, all Will strongly counter terrorist forces of this type, and will survive on friendly terms with other countries, especially its neighbours”.
Stating that China will respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, Wang Wenbin said Beijing also supports the Afghan people in freely choosing the development path suited to the country’s circumstances.
Earlier in July, a Taliban delegation had visited Beijing and held talks with the Chinese foreign minister.
The Taliban on Tuesday announced an interim government headed by Mullah Hassan Akhund in Afghanistan.
Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who led negotiations with the United States and signed the agreement that led to the eventual withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan, was one of Akhund’s two deputies in the new Taliban regime. there will be a.
Mulla Abdus Salam will be another deputy of Akhund.
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