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China, Russia agree to work together to prevent security risks spilling over from Afghanistan
- Xi Jinping says Beijing is willing to work with others to encourage inclusive political structure in Kabul, cut off from terror groups
- In phone call, Vladimir Putin says the countries can cooperate to maintain regional stability as well as ‘resist interference from external forces’
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Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to work together to prevent security threats spilling over from Afghanistan in their first talks since Kabul fell to the Taliban last week.
Their phone call on Wednesday came after Group of Seven leaders held an emergency summit on the situation unfolding in Afghanistan.
Xi said China “respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, pursues a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, and has always played a constructive role in the political settlement of the Afghan issue”, according to state news agency Xinhua.
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He told Putin that China was willing to work with other nations, including Russia, to encourage all parties in Afghanistan to build an inclusive political structure that was cut off from terror groups.
Putin said during the call that China and Russia shared common ground on Afghanistan, and that they could work together to help ease the transition of power in the war-torn country.
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China and Russia can cooperate to “combat terrorism, cut off drug smuggling, prevent the spillover of security risks in Afghanistan, resist interference from external forces, and maintain regional security and stability”, Putin was quoted as saying.
03:57
Clock ticking for US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by August 31 deadline
Clock ticking for US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by August 31 deadline
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