Chinese top diplomat says frozen Afghan foreign exchange reserves should not be used as pressure tool on Afghanistan new government
Islamabad, Sep 23 (Asia Free Press): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that unilateral sanctions or restrictions on Afghanistan new government should be lifted as soon as possible.
According to Reuters news agency citing Wang at a virtual G20 foreign minister’s meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement economic sanctions should be uplifted.
Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves are national assets that should belong to the country’s people and be used by its own people, and not be used as a bargaining chip to exert political pressure on Afghanistan.
He was referring the Washington move to has frozen the Afghanistan over $9.5 billion last month after Taliban takeover Kabul.
“humanitarian aid is the need of the time and countries responsible for the tragic situation in Afghanistan should do something to ease the difficulties of Afghans.” he continued.
He mentioned that most of the countries have adopted a wait-and-see approach to engagement with the Taliban, china is ready to make a ground for friendly and cooperative relations with the new regime calling its establishment a “necessary step” in reconstruction of war torn country.
Hua Chunying, a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, Last month showed her country’s intention for the relations with Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and said that , “The Taliban have repeatedly expressed their hope to develop good relations with China, and that they look forward to China’s participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.”
“We welcome this. China respects the right of the Afghan people to independently determine their own destiny and is willing to continue to develop … friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan,” she had added.
In response Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen welcomed the china’s constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, sited on Taliban official website.
“China is a big country with a huge economy and capacity — I think they can play a very big role in the rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Shaheen had told CGTN television in an interview.
Moreover, a Taliban spokesperson was quoted by the media as saying that they wanted to have Afghanistan incorporated in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
China, along with Pakistan, the US and Russia, is a member of the ‘Extended Troika’ that has been working for peace in Afghanistan.
