China urges US to unfreeze assets belonging to Afghanistan
- Ambassador to Kabul Wang Yu tells acting Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi that China welcomes Taliban guarantee to safeguard its investments
- Beijing has pledged US$31 million worth of aid, including food and coronavirus vaccines
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the assets belonged to Afghanistan, and the US should accept the legitimate demands of the nation.
The US has reportedly frozen US$9.5 billion in Afghanistan central bank assets, following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban.
Zhao’s message came after Beijing’s ambassador to Kabul, Wang Yu, told acting Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi on Tuesday that the China appreciated the Taliban guaranteeing the security of Chinese investments.
“Ambassador Wang thanked the Afghan side for its efforts to safeguard the property of Chinese citizens and Chinese enterprises in Afghanistan and the security of the embassy,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.
Crisis stalks Afghanistan, one month after fall of Kabul
Wang also reaffirmed Beijing’s support for the independence and sovereignty of Afghanistan and reiterated offers of vaccines and humanitarian aid. He added China was “willing to work together with the international community to help Afghanistan tackle terrorism to ensure stability and economic development in the country”.
Muttaqi responded by saying the government was “willing to continue to improve the governance capacity with the help of China and the international community … to better combat terrorism” and would not allow any forces to use its territory to harm interests of China or any other country, according to a Chinese statement.
The Taliban-controlled government is seeking to shore up its finances as the country faces an economic crisis.
The Taliban has declared China to be Afghanistan’s “most important partner” for rebuilding.
Afghanistan is a member of the multinational Chinese strategy, with the first official memorandum on their partnership signed in 2016, but little progress has been made because of volatile conditions in the country.
Since the Taliban took over Kabul a month ago, Beijing – deeply fearful of the spillover effect of Afghanistan’s instability – has taken a cautious strategy with its central Asian neighbour.
Shanghai security bloc tipped to discuss stand on Taliban in Afghanistan
Even though China was among the first major powers to establish contact with the largely isolated Taliban before it had taken control of most of Afghanistan, Beijing has not yet officially recognised the Taliban-controlled government. But China said it was willing to keep up communication with Kabul after the Taliban was named an interim government.