H.E. Special Envoy Dr. Yue Xiaoyong made a speech at the International Conference on Afghanistan held in Tashkent on 26th July, 2022. In his speech he emphasised the need to continue raising worldwide awareness of the Afghanistan situation, helping the country in achieving peace, stability, and reconstruction while moving towards good governance.
China, along with its regional partners, established the Mechanism for Coordination and Cooperation among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan, to shape the international community’s engagement and regional efforts to stabilise Afghanistan. Also, in March 2022, China announced its 1 billion yuan of humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan and provided 50 million RMB yuan’s worth of urgent humanitarian assistance at the earliest possible time.
H.E. also highlighted that frequent natural catastrophes, unilateral sanctions by multiple major nations, and a sharp decline in foreign aid have all had detrimental effects on the country’s economy and standard of living. At the moment, nearly 23 million Afghans are experiencing a food scarcity, 38% is unemployed, and 72% live below the poverty line. However, stability is increasing in Afghanistan as a result of international cooperation from its neighbours, and there hasn’t yet been any significant refugee exodus.
The meeting produced concrete and significant results, including Joint Declaration, which emphasised ongoing support for Afghanistan, and the Tunxi Initiative, focusing on economic reconstruction and practical cooperation.
H.E. further emphasised that China wants to improve coordination and collaboration with all national, regional, and international partners in the following categories listed below, to help Afghanistan address issues such as governance, stability, the economy, and people’s livelihood.
- Offer Afghanistan necessary guidance for its internal and external policies so that it may establish a fair, inclusive form of government and effectively carry out counterterrorism measures.
- Break the deadlock Afghanistan faces in economic growth and people’s livelihood by the international community supporting the UN’s efforts to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and continuing to aid Afghanistan in the economy.
- Enhance connectivity with Afghanistan. China supports all parties in empowering Afghanistan’s geographic advantages. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China is ready to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor out to Afghanistan.
- Despite the fact that humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is not in violation of UNSC sanctions, UNSC resolution No. 2615, several banks continue to refuse to cooperate with humanitarian institutions in sending cash to Afghanistan out of concern for US sanctions. Therefore, the US should lift unilateral sanctions and unfair financial limitations, in support of Afghanistan.
- Enhance cooperation on countering terrorism and security through concrete actions and eliminate the threat of terrorism in Afghanistan and the region.
In concluding his speech, H.E. reaffirmed that China, with the support of all parties, will bring stability, peace, and prosperity to Afghanistan and the rest of the region.
This article originally appeared in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China July 26 2022. Original link.