On October 25, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghan Taliban’s interim government Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha during his visit to Qatar.
Wang Yi said, Afghanistan, now standing at a critical stage of transforming from chaos to governance, is currently facing a historic opportunity to truly master its own destiny, achieve inclusiveness and reconciliation, and advance national reconstruction. Meanwhile, Afghanistan is facing quadruple challenges, namely the humanitarian crisis, economic chaos, terrorist threats and governance difficulties. Overcoming these challenges requires more understanding and support from the international community. China hopes that the Afghan Taliban can further demonstrate openness and inclusiveness, unite all ethnic groups and factions in Afghanistan to work together for peaceful reconstruction. It should effectively protect the rights and interests of women and children, adopt a friendly policy toward its neighboring countries, and build a modern country that conforms to the wishes of the people and the trend of the times.
Wang Yi said, China always respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and supports the Afghan people in independently determining their own destiny and choosing the development path. China has never interfered in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and never sought selfish gains or a sphere of influence, and it firmly pursues a friendly policy toward all the people of Afghanistan, and supports Afghan efforts to restore stability and rebuild the country. Attaching importance to the humanitarian difficulties facing Afghanistan at present, China urges the Western countries led by the United States as a whole to lift sanctions, and calls on all parties to engage with the Afghan Taliban in a rational and pragmatic manner to help Afghanistan embark on a path of sound development. China is willing to continue to provide humanitarian material assistance to Afghanistan within its capacity and work with the international community to help Afghanistan alleviate temporary difficulties and realize economic reconstruction and independent development.
Wang Yi emphasized, the “East Turkestan Islamic Movement” (ETIM), an international terrorist organization designated by the UN Security Council, not only poses a real threat to China’s national security and territorial integrity, but also jeopardizes the domestic stability and long-term stability and security in Afghanistan. China hopes and believes that the Afghan Taliban will make a clean break with the ETIM and other terrorist organizations, and take effective measures to resolutely crack down on them.
Baradar briefed on the current situation in Afghanistan, and said the overall situation in Afghanistan is under control and improving, with the governments at all levels being gradually established and government decrees being carried out effectively. The Afghan interim government is working hard to meet the needs of the people. Afghanistan will learn from historical experience and follow a development path that suits its own national conditions. It has taken and will continue to take inclusive measures to expand the representation of the regime. Most officials and technocrats of the former government have stayed in office, and more outstanding personnel of all ethnic groups will be recruited to participate in state governance in the future. The Afghan Taliban is willing to strengthen the efforts to protect the rights and interests of women and children, and will not deprive them of the rights to education and work. For now, women in medical institutions, airports and other places have resumed their work, and girls in primary and secondary schools in many provinces have returned to school, but they still face difficulties such as lack of facilities and funds. Afghanistan hopes that China and the international community will increase assistance to Afghanistan to help it overcome the humanitarian crisis and return to the right track of development.
Baradar emphasized, China is an important neighbor of Afghanistan, and he is grateful for the respect and friendliness showed by China during the difficult times of Afghanistan. Pursuing a friendly policy toward China is the firm choice by the Afghan Taliban, and Afghan hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields. The Afghan Taliban, which attaches great importance to China’s security concerns, will resolutely honor its promise and never allow anyone or any force to use the Afghan territory to harm China.
During his stay in Doha, Wang Yi will also meet with Acting Foreign Minister of the interim Afghan government Amir Khan Muttaqi.