At a regional conference on Afghanistan, foreign ministers of neighboring countries urged those countries primarily responsible for Afghanistan’s current plight to fulfill their commitments to the country’s economic reconstruction and development.
China-hosted talks between foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and the Afghan Taliban concluded on Thursday in East China’s Tunxi, Anhui Province, foregrounding China’s role as a constructive leading force in addressing the Afghan issue. Some analysts said the mechanism has given regional countries confidence in the Afghan Taliban and more expectations of the international community. According to a joint statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the meeting, all parties held comprehensive, in-depth, and constructive discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and cooperation related to Afghanistan in a candid, pragmatic, and mutual understanding atmosphere.
The statement urges those countries primarily responsible for Afghanistan’s current plight to fulfill their commitments to the country’s economic reconstruction and development. It also called for the improvement of people’s livelihood and the protection of the basic rights of all Afghans, including ethnic groups, women, and children. Wang Yi raised three suggestions.
Uzbekistan is expected to host the fourth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in the first quarter of 2023, read the joint statement. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday delivered written remarks at the meeting. Xi pointed out that Afghanistan has reached a critical point of transition from chaos to order.
“Afghanistan is a common neighbor and partner of all participating countries, and we form a community with a shared future linked by the same mountains and rivers who would rise and fall together,” said Xi. He also noted that a peaceful, stable, developing and prosperous Afghanistan is the aspiration of all Afghans. It is also in the common interests of regional countries and the international community.
Xi stressed that the neighboring countries of Afghanistan should do their best to build consensus and coordinate efforts to support the people of Afghanistan to build a brighter future.
