Andrew
China pledged to help the Taliban “rebuild the country” while reiterating calls for the US to lift sanctions against the new leaders of Afghanistan as the economy worsens.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi made the remarks to a Taliban delegation in Doha, Qatar on Monday, during the first high-level meeting between Beijing and the Taliban since it formed an interim government in September. Wang said the international community should work with the Taliban “in a rational and pragmatic manner”.
China “supports the efforts to restore stability and rebuild the country,” Xinhua reported, citing Wang.
Wang also said he believed the Taliban government would take effective measures to crack down on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and other terrorist organisations that pose risks to China’s national security.
China has largely welcomed the Taliban’s return to rule, and has repeatedly expressed willingness to work with the new regime. A stable Afghanistan could open up opportunities to develop the country’s substantial mineral resources and give a boost to Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure . — Bloomberg.
Online Reporter