Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, acting deputy prime minister of the Afghan Taliban's interim government, in Doha, Qatar, on Oct. 25, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

The Afghan Taliban attaches great importance to China's security concerns, and will resolutely honor its promise and never allow any forces to use the Afghan territory to harm China, said Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the acting deputy prime minister of the Afghan Taliban's interim government,  on Monday during a meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Baradar briefed Wang on the current situation in Afghanistan, which he said is under control and improving, with the governments at all levels being gradually established. 

Wang said that Afghanistan is now at a critical stage of transforming from chaos to governance, and is facing a historic opportunity to achieve reconciliation and advance national reconstruction. But challenges still lay ahead, including the humanitarian crises, economic chaos and terrorist threats, which require more understanding and support from the international community.

Wang expressed hope that the Afghan Taliban will further demonstrate openness and tolerance, unite all ethnic groups and factions in the country to work together for a peaceful reconstruction, and effectively protect the rights and interests of women and children.

The Chinese top diplomat also urged the Taliban to adopt a friendly policy toward its neighboring countries, and build a modern society that conforms to the wishes of the people as well as the trend of the times.

China, which has never interfered in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and never sought selfish gains or influence, firmly pursues a friendly policy toward all the people of Afghanistan.

Wang urged the US and the West to lift sanctions on the country. He also called upon all parties to engage with the Afghan Taliban in a rational and pragmatic manner to help Afghanistan embark on a path of healthy development, adding that China is willing to and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan within its capacity. 

Wang emphasized that the "East Turkestan Islamic Movement" (ETIM), an international terrorist organization listed by the UN Security Council, not only poses a real threat to China's national security and territorial integrity, but also jeopardizes the domestic stability and long-term stability of Afghanistan.

He said that he hopes and believes that the Afghan Taliban will make a clean break with the ETIM and other terrorist organizations, and take effective measures to resolutely crack down on them.

For his part, Baradar said that pursuing a friendly policy toward China is a firm choice by the Afghan Taliban. They attach great importance to China's security concerns, and will resolutely honor its promise and never allow anyone or any force to use the Afghan territory to harm China.

The Afghan interim government is working hard to meet the needs of the people, and will learn from its experience to take a development path in line with its national conditions, he said, adding that inclusive measures are being taken and more talents of all ethnic groups will be recruited to participate in the state governance in the future.

Baradar noted that the Afghan Taliban is willing to strengthen the efforts to protect the rights and interests of women and children, and will not deprive them of the rights to education and work.

Baradar expressed the hope that China and the international community will increase assistance to Afghanistan to help it overcome the humanitarian crisis and return to the right track of development.

Global Times