BEIJING – China appreciated and welcomed Afghanistan’s activeparticipation in the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, and iswilling to promote the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) to Afghanistan in order to make the country a bridge for regionalconnectivity, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said onFriday.
“China appreciates and welcomes Afghanistan’s active participation in thejoint construction of the ‘Belt and Road’, and is willing to promote theextension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, replicatemore successful experiences, and make Afghanistan, located in the ‘Heart ofAsia’, a bridge for regional connectivity,” he said during his regularbriefing held here.
While commenting on the Chinese foreign minister’s visit to Kabul, thespokesperson said that Wang Yi held talks with Acting Deputy Prime MinisterBaradar and Acting Foreign Minister Mutaki of the Afghan Interim Government.
“This is the first visit of a Chinese foreign minister to Afghanistan afterthe political changes in Afghanistan last year,” he added.
Wang Wenbin said the visit is of great significance to promoting thepeaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan and maintaining regional peace andstability, and will have a positive impact.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the talks thatChina and Afghanistan are friendly neighbors linked by mountains andrivers, and the two countries have a history of exchanges for thousands ofyears.
China respects Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorialintegrity, respects the independent choice made by the Afghan people, andrespects Afghanistan’s religious beliefs and ethnic customs.
China never interferes in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, never seeks anyself-interest in Afghanistan, and never seeks the so-called sphere ofinfluence. As Afghan friends often say, China is the only major countrythat has not hurt Afghanistan.
China is willing to continue the traditional friendship between the twopeoples, develop normal and friendly neighborly relations with Afghanistanon the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, helpAfghanistan achieve true independence and independent development, and takeAfghanistan’s future and destiny into its own hands.
He hoped that the Afghan interim government will be inclusive and prudentin governance, and will continue to make active efforts in the directionthat conforms to the interests of the Afghan people and the expectations ofthe international community.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that the ‘EastTurkistan Independence Movement’ is a terrorist organization listed by theUN Security Council and legally recognized by the Chinese government, andhoped that Afghanistan could earnestly fulfill its commitments and takeeffective measures to resolutely combat all terrorists including the ETIM.
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The spokesperson said that the Afghan side welcomed State Councilor andForeign Minister Wang Yi and the Chinese delegation to visit Afghanistan,saying that this is the most important high-level delegation received bythe Afghan side, which will further enhance the time-honored friendlyrelations between Afghanistan and China.
The Afghan side thanked China for providing valuable assistance to theAfghan side, especially providing charcoal in the snow, providing theAfghan people with much-needed humanitarian supplies for the winter.
The Afghan side stressed that thay are a responsible government, and wouldlike to reiterate to China and the world that no terrorists will be allowedto operate in Afghanistan, and no one or any organization will be allowedto use Afghanistan’s territory to take actions against other countries,including China.
The Afghan side attaches great importance to China’s security concerns, andwill take practical and strong measures to achieve security throughout thecountry and contribute to maintaining regional security.
The Afghan side highly appreciated the constant presence of the Chineseembassy in Afghanistan, which fully reflects the strong connection betweenAfghanistan and China.
The Afghan side cherishes its friendship with the Chinese side, andappreciates the Chinese side’s assistance when the Afghan people are in themost difficult time, especially the anti-epidemic support and humanitarianassistance that Afghanistan desperately needs.
Afghanistan is willing to give full play to its unique geographicaladvantages, more fully participate in the joint construction of the ‘Beltand Road’, and become a bridge for regional connectivity.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that under the premise ofrespecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty, China is willing to carry outmutually beneficial cooperation with Afghanistan in an orderly manner.
The relations based on the principles of focusing on improving people’slivelihood, focusing on enhancing Afghanistan’s independent developmentcapabilities, focusing on practical results, and not making empty promisesto help Afghanistan transform its resource advantages into developmentadvantages, the spokesperson concluded.