China pledges quake aid for Afghanistan but also wants Taliban to take action on terrorism
- During call between foreign ministers, Wang Yi describes China as a ‘true friend’ to its neighbour and promises tents and beds in US$7.4 million aid package
- Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi says Kabul ‘fully understands’ Beijing’s security concerns
China has pledged to deliver more aid to tens of thousands of Afghans while also urging its South Asian neighbour to keep up the fight against terrorism.
Speaking to Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that as a “friendly neighbour and a true friend to Afghanistan”, China felt deep empathy with Afghan people affected by the devastating earthquake and would give more help according to Afghanistan’s needs.
“We are confident that the Afghan side will unite to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes as soon as possible,” Wang said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement on Tuesday morning.
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Monday’s phone call came after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit a remote and mountainous area in southeastern Afghanistan on Wednesday last week, killing at least 1,000 people, injuring more than 2,000 others and destroying over 10,000 homes. It was a further blow for the country, mired in humanitarian and economic crises since the Taliban took over in August last year.
The Taliban government, which has been cut off from most international assistance because of Western sanctions, described it as the deadliest earthquake to rock the country in decades and appealed for emergency humanitarian aid while calling for a freeze on the country’s central bank assets to be lifted.
Earlier on Monday, Beijing announced a chartered flight carrying the first batch of aid – including 120 tents, 320 folding beds and more than 6,000 towels – had landed in Afghanistan and that another six flights with more relief would arrive over the following three days.
It was part of a 50 million-yuan (US$7.4 million) humanitarian aid package from China to Afghanistan. During a speech at a handover ceremony in Kabul airport on Monday, Chinese ambassador Wang Yu said the relief assistance “reflected the concrete practice of goodwill, sincerity and tolerance” by China.
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During the phone call between foreign ministers on Monday, Wang also urged Afghanistan to “take practical measures to resolutely combat all terrorist forces, including the ETIM, and strengthen the security protection of Chinese citizens and institutions in Afghanistan,” Wang said.
He was referring to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, now known as Turkestan Islamic Party, that Beijing has repeatedly blamed for violent attacks in Xinjiang and elsewhere.
It was among the first nations to establish communication with the Taliban, and in March it hosted a series of meetings on Afghanistan affairs that were joined by officials from Russia and the US as well as several countries neighbouring the war-torn nation. No country has formally recognised the Taliban government.
During the phone call, Wang reiterated Beijing’s policy to respect Afghanistan’s national integrity, territorial sovereignty and autonomy as well as the “independent choices” of its people and their religious faith. He said China was not seeking to establish any sphere of influence in the country.
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He also urged the two sides towards further “practical cooperation”, particularly in relation to people’s livelihood, trade and economy, agriculture, mining and connectivity.
The two sides are expected to hold a second meeting about humanitarian and economic reconstruction in Afghanistan, according to Wang.
“China will continue to play a constructive role and support the Afghan side in building a broad and inclusive political system, moderate and stable governance and stand up for the Afghan side in the United Nations … and other multilateral arenas,” China’s foreign minister said.
Wang added that Beijing aimed to further build consensus among regional countries to support stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
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In response, Muttaqi said his country was committed to developing a friendly relationship with China “in all areas”.
Afghanistan “fully understands the security concerns from the Chinese side and is willing to join efforts with China to fight against terrorism”, the Taliban-appointed diplomat said, adding that his government welcomed China playing “an important role in peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan”, the Chinese statement said.
