China extends influence in Afghanistan

China extends influence in Afghanistan

KABUL, March 9 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday offered 100 million U.S. dollars to assist the Afghan refugees and returnees and further boost bilateral ties with the neighboring country.

The announcement came as nearly 1 million Afghan refugees returned to their homeland within the past one year while nearly the same number was forced to flee their houses due to ongoing conflicts.

The latest fund for Afghan refugees will be channeled through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and would be rendered to the refugees.

Earlier on Thursday Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing joined Afghan Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs Sayed Hossein Alimi Balkhi and

Fathiaa Abdalla, country representative of the UNHCR, to distribute assistance to more than 330 refugee families in eastern side of Kabul.

Minister Balkhi expressed gratitude to China and other stakeholders for their assistance to the Afghan refugees and displaced families.