Taliban fighters stand guard at an entrance gate outside the Interior Ministry in Kabul on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for efforts to promote the steady transition of the Afghan situation as soon as possible, engage Afghanistan in dialogue, and help the Afghan people tide over their difficulties.

Xi made a three-point proposal in Beijing at a joint summit of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states on the Afghan issue by video link.

Xi said CSTO and SCO members are all in the vicinity of Afghanistan, and are within a community for a shared future and shared security, and that they should work together to play their role in critical moments. We should jointly safeguard the peace and stability which is more precious than gold, Xi said.

Xi urged respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, supporting the implementation of the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle, and letting the Afghan people decide the future of their own country.

Relevant parties in Afghanistan should be urged to resolutely crack down on and eradicate terrorist organizations in the Afghan territory and prevent terrorist forces in Afghanistan from wreaking havoc, Xi said. 

Xi called on SCO and CSTO member states to interact with all parties in Afghanistan from a rational and pragmatic perspective, and facilitate a new political structure that is more open and inclusive, and adopts moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies and develops friendly relations with other countries, especially its neighboring countries.

Xi said China will deliver emergency aid as soon as possible and will continue to offer more assistance within its capacity. 

As the instigators of the difficult situation in Afghanistan, certain countries should draw lessons from the past and shoulder their due responsibilities for Afghanistan's future development, Xi said.

Global Times