Turmoil in Afghanistan binding China and Russia even closer
- Top diplomats of Beijing and Moscow pledge to protect interests in Afghanistan and urge the Taliban to cut terror links
- Western efforts to divide ‘trustworthy, reliable and invincible’ partners will not succeed, Chinese foreign minister says of Russia ties
The swift fall of Kabul has pushed China and Russia to strengthen their alliance, with both sides pledging to work together to protect their interests in Afghanistan.
The two top diplomats also pledged to boost bilateral relations – describing ties as unshakeable and surpassing other alliances made during the Cold War era – in a pointed comment targeting the US.
Afghan chaos left by US a ‘lesson’ for Taiwan, Chinese media warns
Wang, also a state councillor of China, said the sudden collapse of the US-backed Afghan government had been“inevitable” and was proof of the failure of American hegemony.
“It has been the international consensus that this ending has its inner logic and inevitability, and proves that military intervention and hegemony are unpopular [courses of action] and doomed to fail,” Wang was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday.
02:10
Taliban says ‘war is over’ in Afghanistan and now time for group to serve the nation
Both China and Russia have kept their embassies open and said they will continue operations in Afghanistan.
06:32
Helicopters fly over Kabul to ferry diplomats after Taliban reaches Afghan capital
“Under the new situation, China and Russia must strengthen strategic communication and coordination, firstly to safeguard the rightful interests of China and Russia in Afghanistan, ensure timely communication, [and] support each other,” Wang told Lavrov.
The two powers will make sure that the Taliban provides security guarantees for Chinese and Russian personnel and investments, and will also encourage the insurgent group to implement a “moderate and stable religious policy” and maintain friendly ties with its neighbours.
03:59
Women fear the worst for their freedoms as Taliban return to power in Afghanistan
“The new regime in Afghanistan must cut ties with all international terrorist groups, restrain and crack down on terrorist forces including the ETIM, and prevent Afghanistan from becoming the hub of terrorist and extremist forces again,” said Wang.
Fu Xiaoqiang, vice-president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, said security concerns remain for Chinese investments and China should work with other powers in steering the Taliban regime towards building a “a normal country that is neutral, peaceful and safe”.
“It is important that [the international community] steer the new Afghan regime towards abandoning violence and post-war reconstructions through international exchanges,” Fu said in an article posted on the institute’s official WeChat account on Tuesday.
“We can anticipate that for a considerably long period of time, the security situation in Afghanistan would not be optimistic, with the main challenges being the persisting threat of international terrorism, continuing chaos in Afghanistan’s domestic situation, and the challenges in international cooperation.”
A statement from the Russian foreign ministry said the two diplomats exchanged views on possibilities for closer foreign policy coordination, including within the United Nations.
Wang made the same appeal during high-profile talks in late July with a Taliban delegation led by the group’s chief negotiator and co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, held in the northern city of Tianjin.
China a ‘welcome friend’ in Afghanistan: Taliban spokesman
“China and Russia are trustworthy, reliable and invincible strategic cooperation partners. Some Western forces are trying to drive a wedge between our two nations. Such efforts will not succeed,” Wang told Lavrov.
A statement from the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Lavrov as saying that bilateral relations have surpassed any political and military alliance made during the Cold War era.
01:22
Russian leader claims Russia-China relationship being sabotaged
The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov and Wang discussed a schedule of future exchanges and efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In view of the upcoming anniversary of the end of World War II, special attention was focused on closer coordination of efforts to counter attempts at falsifying its history and revising its results. The ministers agreed to organise joint events dedicated to the two countries’ fight against the Nazis and militarists,” the ministry said.
