Tahir Khan Published March 24, 2022 -
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) calls on acting Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul on Thursday. — Photo by author
Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (L) welcomes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) on his arrival to Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday. — Photo courtesy Bakhtar News Agenc
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Kabul on Thursday morning in a trip that was not earlier announced, officials confirmed.
Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi received Yi on arrival in Kabul along with a high-level delegation.
The visit comes a week before Beijing hosts a two-day conference, on March 30-31, of Afghanistan's neighbours on how to assist the Taliban government. Pakistan and Iran had earlier hosted similar meetings of these neighbouring countries after the Taliban takeover.
During the day-long visit, Yi held separate meetings with acting Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and FM Muttaqi, the officials said, adding that bilateral matters, economic cooperation and Chinese investment in Afghanistan were discussed during the meetings.
'Afghan territory will not be used against any country'
According to Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesperson of the Afghan government, Baradar assured the Chinese foreign minister that Afghan territory would not be used against any country.
In the past, China has expressed concern about the presence of members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which has been recognised as a terror outfit by the United Nations.
Samangani said both sides discussed the expansion of Afghanistan-China relations in several fields, including trade, transit and the economy.
In this regard, Samangani quoted Baradar as saying that Afghanistan and China had historical and friendly relations and that the two countries had stood together in difficult times.
"So it is very important that we strengthen and expand our relations," Baradar said.
According to Samangani, Baradar told the Chinese foreign minister that Afghanistan was working to expand relations with all countries, especially China.
"And we thank China for its humanitarian assistance," Baradar added.
'China's policy is not to interfere in Afghanistan'
Separately, Yi met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, according to a statement by Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Afghan foreign ministry.
The two foreign ministers exchanged views on politics, the economy, transit and air corridor, the statement said, adding that the export of dry fruits from Afghanistan to China, educational scholarships, issuance of visas, Afghanistan's role in the Belt and Road Initiative and other matters of significance were also discussed.
Yi called his visit to Afghanistan a step towards strengthening comprehensive relations and said Afghan-China should be further enhanced and expanded, the statement shared by Balkhi on Twitter read.
Yi told Muttaqi that China had adopted a policy of non-interference in Afghan internal affairs and objected to the imposition of political and economic sanctions on the war-torn country.
He praised the changes made by and the security measure taken by the new Afghan government and highlighted the humanitarian, development and other assistance provided to Afghanistan, the statement said.
It added that Yi also underlined the importance of the upcoming meeting of foreign ministers from Afghanistan's neighbouring countries and expressed pleasure over Muttaqi's intent to participate in the meeting.
For his part, Muttaqi said the Chinese foreign minister's visit to Afghanistan gave a "positive message" to Afghans and the world and appreciated China for its support and assistance.
He also extended his condolences over the loss of lives in a recent plane crash in China.
The Afghan foreign minister told his Chinese counterpart that the new Taliban government had taken measures to ensure security in the country and that this "existing security" would pave the way for foreign investment, including that from China.
He also raised the prospect of China working with Afghans on economic growth and stability, which Muttaqi said his government would fully support.
"We are committed to [pursuing] sincere cooperation with the People's Republic of China, and ensuring peace and security in Afghanistan means peace and stability in the region," he said, stressing that the Afghan territory would not be used against any country.
Yi's visit is the first by a senior Chinese leader after the Taliban took control of Kabul in August and comes right after he completed his three-day visit to Islamabad where he attended the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's foreign minister’s conference, which ended yesterday, as a special guest.
FM Yi last visited Kabul in June 2017 after a huge truck bomb killed and injured many. He had tried to ease tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan after exchanges of fire in May 2017 had made relations tenuous.
The Chinese foreign minister’s visit might give a diplomatic boost to the Taliban government, which is yet to be recognised by any country.
China has been involved in the Afghan peace process after the US withdrew most of its troops in 2014. Taliban political representatives have paid several visits to China over the past few years.
Meeting with Russian delegation
The statement quoted Muttaqi as saying that Russia had utilised the opportunities created by the new Afghan government and extended assistance on several development projects.
"Muttaqi said the new government is focused on regional security and connectivity, and wants Afghanistan, as the heart of Asia, to play an important role in strengthening transit, trade, industry and economy ... in the region," the statement read.
The two sides called the meeting positive, expressing hope for an expedited and enduring series of practical cooperation, the statement added.
#KASHMIR IS #INDIA'S #GAZA
India rejects Chinese FM's remarks on occupied Kashmir at OIC mootDawn.com |
Published March 24, 2022
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) moot on March 22.
— APP/File
India has rejected Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks on occupied Kashmir during the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Islamabad, terming it an "uncalled [for] reference".
According to a report by NDTV, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi, while talking to reporters on Wednesday, called the Kashmir issue an "internal matter", saying that other countries, including China, had "no locus standi" to comment on it.
The two-day meeting of OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers ended on Wednesday with affirmation of support for Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir disputes.
Forty-six countries participated in the moot at the ministerial level, while the other countries were represented by senior officials. Nearly 800 delegates attended the meeting hosted by Islamabad. The Chinese foreign minister was the special guest at the conference. It was the first time in OIC's history that a Chinese foreign minister attended its foreign ministers' meeting, indicating Beijing's expanding role in the Muslim world.
According to the NDTV report, Wang had made a reference to occupied Kashmir in his opening speech at the OIC moot, saying: "On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope."
Reacting to the statement on Wednesday, Bagchi said: "Matters related to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are entirely the internal affairs of India. Other countries including China have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues."
Chinese FM's expected trip to India
This rebuttal from the Indian side came at a time when the Chinese foreign minister is expected to make a surprise stop for talks in New Delhi on Friday, an Indian official told Reuters, though neither side has formally announced what would be the highest-level visit since border clashes soured relations two years ago.
Yi is set to also visit Nepal on Friday, as part of a tour of South Asia.
The Indian government source, who requested anonymity, said Yi was expected to meet with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and while the agenda was unclear, discussions over the Ukraine conflict were expected.
India's foreign ministry declined to comment. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a daily news briefing on Wednesday that he had no information to offer at the moment.
Relations between China and Indian became fraught in June 2020, when 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed during a high-altitude clash in a disputed section of the western Himalayas.
India has rejected Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks on occupied Kashmir during the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Islamabad, terming it an "uncalled [for] reference".
According to a report by NDTV, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi, while talking to reporters on Wednesday, called the Kashmir issue an "internal matter", saying that other countries, including China, had "no locus standi" to comment on it.
The two-day meeting of OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers ended on Wednesday with affirmation of support for Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir disputes.
Forty-six countries participated in the moot at the ministerial level, while the other countries were represented by senior officials. Nearly 800 delegates attended the meeting hosted by Islamabad. The Chinese foreign minister was the special guest at the conference. It was the first time in OIC's history that a Chinese foreign minister attended its foreign ministers' meeting, indicating Beijing's expanding role in the Muslim world.
According to the NDTV report, Wang had made a reference to occupied Kashmir in his opening speech at the OIC moot, saying: "On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope."
Reacting to the statement on Wednesday, Bagchi said: "Matters related to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are entirely the internal affairs of India. Other countries including China have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues."
Chinese FM's expected trip to India
This rebuttal from the Indian side came at a time when the Chinese foreign minister is expected to make a surprise stop for talks in New Delhi on Friday, an Indian official told Reuters, though neither side has formally announced what would be the highest-level visit since border clashes soured relations two years ago.
Yi is set to also visit Nepal on Friday, as part of a tour of South Asia.
The Indian government source, who requested anonymity, said Yi was expected to meet with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and while the agenda was unclear, discussions over the Ukraine conflict were expected.
India's foreign ministry declined to comment. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a daily news briefing on Wednesday that he had no information to offer at the moment.
Relations between China and Indian became fraught in June 2020, when 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed during a high-altitude clash in a disputed section of the western Himalayas.
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