Seeking to meet old friends more frequently in China can indeed be a wise strategy!
During the regular foreign ministry meeting on the 1st, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed questions from Agence France-Presse (AFP) regarding Afghanistan.
The AFP mentioned that the day before, the Afghan Interim Government stated,
“Russia has become the first country to officially recognize the Taliban government,” and asked what comments China had on this development.
Mao Ning’s response first confirmed the authenticity of the question’s content. She stated,
“Firstly, China welcomes the new developments in the relationship between Russia and the Afghan Interim Government.”
At least, it has been confirmed that Russia has recognized the Afghan Interim Government.
Subsequently, Mao Ning expressed China’s stance:
As a traditional friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, China always believes that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community. China supports the strengthening of contacts and exchanges with the Afghan Interim Government, encourages its active responses to the concerns of the international community, jointly helps Afghanistan achieve reconstruction and development, supports the Afghan side in combating terrorist forces, and contributes positively to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Clearly, China’s attitude is focused on two aspects.
Being a traditional friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, China hopes that the international community will not only engage with the Afghan Interim Government but also provide encouragement and assistance.
On the other hand, it also seeks to hope for the Afghan Interim Government, such as
“responding to the concerns of the international community,” or
“combating terrorist forces.”
Why does China speak in this manner? In the view of Hao Shu, there is a major reason behind this:
The recent reasons leading to today’s situation in Afghanistan are essentially due to the hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops during President Biden’s tenure. The United States’ entry into Afghanistan had already caused unrest in the country. As the country was yet to restore order and tranquility, the U.S. completely left based on the private interests of the Biden administration.
Before the withdrawal, there had already been a secret contact with the then-independent Afghan Taliban.
After the U.S. military withdrew, the pro-U.S. Afghan government quickly disintegrated. Ghani fled with gold and dollars, reportedly heading to Abu Dhabi in the UAE, but has since disappeared without a trace!
Then came the rise of the Afghan Taliban, forming an interim government in Afghanistan.
How should China treat this Afghanistan, which is adjacent to China through the Wakhan Corridor?
Looking back at the multiple statements made by China after the establishment of the interim government in Afghanistan, it feels like we:
On the day of the third meeting of neighboring countries’ foreign ministers in Tianxu, Anhui, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the meeting and the first foreign ministers’ dialogue between neighbors and the interim government in Afghanistan. At the press conference following the meeting, he introduced the important consensus and outcomes of the meeting and answered questions. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
The “Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue” was held in Tianxu, Anhui, China. At that time, Wang Yi, serving as both Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, stated:
China always believes that Afghanistan should not become a failed state and should not be excluded from the international community.
Afghanistan has suffered years of warfare, lagging behind the world’s development pace, and this situation should not continue.
The Afghan people have the right to live in peace and warmth, and the Afghan nation also has the right to stand equally among the world’s nations.
Of course, at that time, Wang Yi also mentioned some issues within Afghanistan, including:
“Promoting national reconciliation, building governance more inclusively, ensuring women and children’s employment and education rights,” and “especially taking a more determined stance against terrorism and achieving more visible results.”
“I believe that with stronger responses to concerns from all parties, diplomatic recognition of the Afghan government will naturally follow.”
On the day, Ambassador Zhao Xing of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan published an article in the mainstream Afghan media “Asia Heart Daily” titled “United in Civilizational Dialogue to Write a Beautiful Future Together—The Global Civilization Initiative Injects Chinese Wisdom into Human Development.” Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website announced that “Ambassador Zhao Xing of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan was interviewed by the official Afghan media ‘Kabul Times’.” The main points mentioned were as follows:
1. China and Afghanistan are maintaining good exchanges and have already dispatched ambassadors to each other.
China became the first country to dispatch ambassadors to the Afghan interim government, leading the bilateral relations to new heights.
2. With the establishment of the Afghan interim government and the overall improvement of security situation, China has made numerous investments in various fields in Afghanistan. For example, in the Amadiya oil field and the Einak copper mine, and bilateral trade volume is growing.
3. In response to the needs of Afghanistan, China has provided a large number of diverse and rich training opportunities to Afghanistan over the years.
4. In areas such as education cooperation between China and Afghanistan, China shares its experiences in science and technology, agricultural development, industry, municipal services, and education with Afghanistan.
5. China provides tangible assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
What does this all show?
Clearly, it shows the relationship between China and Afghanistan! Mr. Hao believes that only by helping Afghanistan towards economic construction can it move towards a more comprehensive modernization!
On the day, Ambassador Zhao Xing published an article in the mainstream Afghan media “Asia Heart Daily” titled “United in Civilizational Dialogue to Write a Beautiful Future Together—The Global Civilization Initiative Injects Chinese Wisdom into Human Development.” Let’s delve deeper into it!
On the same day, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, met with the acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan in Beijing. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
On the day, Wang Yi, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with the acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan in Beijing.
Wang Yi directly mentioned that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan!
At this moment, the visit of Mutakhi to China signifies that China and Afghanistan are traditionally friendly neighbors, with both sides always understanding and supporting each other, continuously pushing forward bilateral relations.
Of course, it’s important to note a statement made by Mao Ning during yesterday’s Foreign Ministry meeting:
“China will continue to pursue an international diplomacy policy aimed at all Afghan people, supporting exchanges and cooperation in various fields between China and Afghanistan.”
Seashu says that, just as the recent reasons for the current situation in Afghanistan—the United States’ military intervention followed by hasty withdrawal—are rooted in the US’s actions; there are also longer-term causes, such as the Soviet Union’s aggressive invasion of Afghanistan. The result is the fragmentation of civilization in Central Asia, which is also
“the graveyard of empires,” and even further back, one must ask about the once-great Britain, known as the “Universe-Spanning Empire.”
Afghanistan now seeks development, feeling the need to move towards modernization and gradually becoming a bridge connecting Eastern and Western regions. In other words, the fragments of civilization should become a bridge between East and West.
From this perspective, it seems that the Afghan interim government still has much work to do. Seeking to meet old friends more frequently in China could be a good strategy!