Chinese envoy calls for dialogue, engagement with Afghan interim gov't

UNITED NATIONS -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the international community to maintain dialogue and engagement with the Afghan interim government.

Engaging the Afghan interim government with a practical attitude is the fundamental way towards enhanced understanding and mutual trust and addressing relevant concerns, Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told a Security Council briefing.

The international community in general does have consensus on building an Afghanistan that is peaceful, stable and prosperous, and hopes to resort to dialogue and engagement to help the Afghan interim government build political inclusivity, govern with moderation, and build an open and inclusive political architecture, Zhang noted.

"We hope that the Afghan interim government will make positive efforts in the interest of the Afghan people, meet the expectations of the international community, and realize independent and effective state governance, including effectively ensuring the rights of women to education and employment," he said.

To promote dialogue and engagement, it is necessary for the Security Council sanctions committee to make a package of exemption arrangements for the international travel of relevant personnel of the Afghan interim government, said Zhang.

The sanctions measures imposed on the relevant personnel by the Security Council in line with Resolution 1988 should also be adjusted or lifted in light of the development of the situation in a timely manner, he added.

China also calls upon traditional donors to continue providing Afghanistan with humanitarian assistance and keep the UN's humanitarian operations functioning normally in the country, Zhang said, noting that easing the humanitarian crisis remains the most urgent priority for Afghanistan at present.

"It is unacceptable for developed donors to significantly cut their aid to Afghanistan and to link humanitarian aid to other issues," he said.

China also urges relevant countries to lift unilateral sanctions on Afghanistan, the envoy said, pointing to the fact that since 2021, billions of US dollars worth of Afghanistan's overseas assets have been frozen by the United States.

"Until this day, not a cent has been returned into the hands of the Afghan people," he said. "We urge the United States to promptly return the assets concerned. The U.S. must not delay this under various pretexts and aggravate the sufferings of the Afghan people."

China, as Afghanistan's neighbor, has always followed and cared about the situation in Afghanistan.

In April, China released a paper stating its position on the Afghan issue.

"China will continue to provide help to the best of its ability to Afghanistan's reconstruction and development, and looks forward to the early achievement of peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan," Zhang said.