Beijing announces readiness to strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan

WORLD, Aug. 15 (YPA) – Afghanistan is still going through a critical stage of transition from chaos to order, the press office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, stressing Beijing’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Kabul in various fields.

Speaking to Novosti on the one-year anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan, the office said: “A year ago the US withdrew its troops from Afghanistan very quickly, leaving chaos to the Afghan people, but at the same time the Afghan people received a historic opportunity to take the fate and future of their country into their own hands.”

Last year, due to the joint efforts of the international community and the Afghan interim government, Afghanistan had been able to prevent the massive influx of refugees, while the country’s social order and security situation had gradually begun to improve.

“On the other hand, the economic situation in Afghanistan remains difficult, the threat of terrorism is far from disappearing, the public administration needs to be improved, and Afghanistan is still going through a critical stage to move from chaos to order,” the statement  said.

Regardless of existing issues, China has been actively supporting the reconstruction of Afghanistan over a long period, while trade cooperation between Beijing and Kabul brings tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries, the office noted.

“We are ready to continue to strengthen economic cooperation with Afghanistan in various fields including trade, economy, transportation, agriculture and energy,” the office’s statement explained, recalling that the Afghan interim government has announced its commitment to creating a favorable environment for foreign investors.

E.M