*The third Foreign Ministers’ Meeting among the Neighboring Countries ofAfghanistan was held in Tunxi, Anhui Province in China on March 31, 2022. *
Foreign Ministers or senior representatives of seven countries, namelyChina, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan,attended the meeting.
President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China sent acongratulatory message to the meeting.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered remarks via video link.
In a candid and pragmatic atmosphere of mutual understanding, the partieshad comprehensive, in-depth and constructive discussions on the situationin Afghanistan and on cooperation regarding Afghanistan, and declared thefollowing:
*Political and diplomatic fields*
Reaffirmed respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrityand national unity of Afghanistan, support for the Afghan people inindependently deciding the future of their country, and support for thebasic principle of “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned”.
Urged the countries mainly responsible for the current predicament inAfghanistan to earnestly fulfill commitments on the economic recovery andfuture development of Afghanistan.
Stressed that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan serves thecommon interests of regional countries and Afghanistan, and expressedreadiness to jointly play a constructive role to this end.
Noted the importance to achieve national reconciliation in Afghanistanthrough dialogue and negotiation, and to establish a broad-based andinclusive political structure, adopt moderate and sound domestic andforeign policies, and grow friendly relations with all countries,especially its neighbors, and emphasized the necessity for all sides tostrengthen dialogue and communication with Afghanistan for the abovepurposes.
Noted the importance of taking necessary continuing steps in Afghanistan onensuring women’s rights and children’s education, among others, and calledfor further actions to be taken to improve people’s livelihood, safeguardthe fundamental rights of all Afghans, including ethnic groups, women andchildren.
Reaffirmed opposition to attempts at politicizing humanitarian assistance,and reiterated respect and support for the central role of Afghanistan indistributing and using humanitarian assistance to be rendered byinternational community and international organizations to the people ofAfghanistan.
*Economic and humanitarian fields*
Expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation, economic andlivelihood plight in Afghanistan and announced readiness to provide furtherhumanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
Expressed appreciation of and support for the key role of the UN inproviding humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, and called on theinternational community in particular the UN agencies and relevant membersof the UN Security Council to step up emergency humanitarian assistance tothe people of Afghanistan.
Followed with concern the spread of COVID-19 and shortages of medicine andmedical equipment in Afghanistan, and expressed readiness to helpAfghanistan enhance capacity in health care and COVID-19 containment.
Expressed support for Afghanistan’s efforts toward self-generateddevelopment, and undertook to support the economic recovery of Afghanistanat both bilateral and multilateral levels, open up ports further, andstrengthen exchanges and cooperation with Afghanistan in such fields astrade and economy, energy, agriculture, finance, connectivity andinfrastructure, to help Afghanistan build capacity for self-generateddevelopment.
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Reaffirmed commitment to deepen cooperation within such frameworks as theBelt and Road Initiative, as well as regional cooperation organizations,and to include Afghanistan in the regional connectivity, energy andtransport networks, economic and trade systems, in order to helpAfghanistan unleash its geographical advantages and economic potential.
*Counter-terrorism and security *
Noted commitments and pledges made by Afghanistan to the internationalcommunity that the territory of Afghanistan will not pose any threats tothe neighboring countries and no place will be given to terrorist groups onthe Afghan territory.
Stressed terrorism as a key factor affecting stability in Afghanistan,condemned all forms of violence and terrorist attacks, and reiterated thatISIS, Al-Qaeda, ETIM, TTP, BLA, Jondollah, Jaish-Al-Adl, Jamaat Ansarullah,IMU and other terrorist organizations must not be given any place on theAfghan territory.
Called on relevant Afghan parties to take more visible steps to make aclean break with all forms of terrorist forces, monitor free movement ofall terrorist organizations, and to firmly fight and eliminate themincluding through dismantling of their training camps, to ensure thatAfghanistan would never again serve as a breeding ground, safe haven orsource of proliferation for terrorism.
Urged relevant Afghan parties to safeguard the security and legitimaterights and interests of foreign citizens and institutions in Afghanistan.
Reaffirmed readiness to strengthen counter-terrorism and securitycooperation among neighboring countries, build a united front againstterrorism. Noted the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan on “securitybelt”around Afghanistan. Tighten border control, prevent terrorist forcesfrom fleeing across borders, and stay committed to safeguarding securityand stability in the region. Expressed readiness to conductcounter-terrorism and security cooperation with Afghanistan to help itbuild counter-terrorism capacity.
Encouraged relevant Afghan parties to take concrete actions againstcultivation, production and illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs in orderto crack down on organized crime to free Afghanistan from the scourge ofdrugs.
Reaffirmed readiness to scale up joint efforts to combat cross-borderdrug-related crime and protect people’s health and social stability.
*Refugees*
Expressed concern over the situation of the Afghan refugee as well asinternally displaced people and support for UN agencies in playing anactive role in this regard.
Expressed appreciation of the efforts made by the regional countries, inparticular Pakistan and Iran, on the issue of Afghan refugees and called onthe international community to provide those countries with continuous,sufficient and proportionate financial support for timely return of Afghanrefugees with dignity and honor.
*Institution building*
Announced the launch of a mechanism for regular consultations among specialenvoys (special representatives) for Afghanistan of the neighboringcountries and three working groups namely political and diplomatic,economic and humanitarian, security and stability, to follow up on theoutcomes of the foreign ministers’ meetings among the neighboring countriesof Afghanistan.
Expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Chinese side for hosting the3rd Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the high organizational level, supportedUzbekistan to convene the 4th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in first quarterof 2023 in Tashkent.
