Foreign minister meets Afghan leaders, vows to cooperate with war-torn nation

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's whirlwind visit to Afghanistan, the first visit by a Chinese high-level official since the Taliban took over power in August, is of great significance for the reconstruction and long-term stability of the war-torn country, said officials and analysts.

On Thursday, Wang met with the Afghan Taliban's interim government's Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, saying China would carry out mutually beneficial cooperation under the premise of respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty in an orderly manner to help the country realize independent development.

Wang reiterated that China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respects the independent choice made by the Afghan people, and respects Afghanistan's religious beliefs and national customs.

China never interferes in Afghanistan's internal affairs, nor does it seek a sphere of influence in Afghanistan, he added.

Wang said he hopes the Afghan interim government can build an inclusive political structure and implement moderate and prudent policies to serve the Afghan people's interests and meet expectations from the international community.

He also called for the Afghan interim government to take effective measures to resolutely combat all forms of terrorism including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, thus creating necessary conditions for normal relations between Afghanistan and other countries.

China appreciates and welcomes Afghanistan's active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan to make the latter a bridge for regional connectivity, he added.

The Afghanistan officials said Wang's delegation is the most important high-level delegation received by the interim government and it will further enhance the time-honored friendship between the two sides while assuring Wang that Afghan territory would not be used by any force to harm China.

The one-day trip came amid preparations for the third foreign ministers' meeting to be held among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and chaired by China.