INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China on Monday called on the international community to maintain engagement with the Islamic Emirate government of Afghanistan and to
expand economic cooperation and humanitarian assistance with the country.Addressing the United Nations Security Council meeting on
Afghanistan on Monday, China&s envoy to the UN Fu Cong said that while Afghanistan remains largely stable, with a steadily improving economy
and dynamic external relations, the country also faces multiple challenges in humanitarian areas, development, terrorist threats, and
women&s rights and interests.He said maintaining the engagement momentum with the Afghan government was important.Last year saw an
increasing number of countries conducting dialogue and cooperation with the interim government, lending strong support to the reconstruction
and development of Afghanistan.China supports the international community in cementing mutual trust with the interim government and
addressing each other&s concerns through dialogue
China reiterates that the Council should reinstate its package of exemptions to the travel ban imposed on the relevant personnel of the
Afghan interim government, and timely adjust the 1988 sanctions regime, so as to facilitate the external engagement of the interim
government.& He stated that major traditional donors have abruptly paused or reduced their aid to Afghanistan, which has had a serious
impact on the country&s healthcare, education, and food and agriculture systems
This had made ''the already difficult life of the Afghan people even more precarious.We call on traditional donors, especially those
historically responsible for the problems of the country, to resume and increase their aid to Afghanistan and desist from using humanitarian
aid as a bargaining chip to exert political pressure.& Fu pointed out that while the country&s economy grew by 2.7% last year, the
economic foundation remained shaky and that &potential for development is yet to be unlocked.It is necessary that all parties continue
bilateral, multilateral, and regional cooperation in support of Afghanistan&s economic recovery, including rebuilding its banking system and
provide more resources for its development.Fu also called for Afghanistan&s foreign reserves to be unfrozen and returned immediately.On the
issue of guaranteeing the fundamental rights and interests of all Afghan people, Fu said: &The morality law promulgated by Afghanistan has
been widely scrutinized.We hope that the Afghan side will take the legitimate international concerns seriously and effectively respect
women&s equal rights to education, employment, and public life
Having said that, it is important to note that women&s rights and interests are not the only problem facing the country, still less a root
cause of its current challenges.There is a need to support its economic and social development as a way to create favorable conditions for
women&s rights and interests, while guiding Afghanistan to shift its policies through dialogue.& On countering terrorism, he said: &China
calls on the interim government to continue countering all terrorist forces, including Daesh, Al-Qaida, and ETIM/TIP, to eradicate the
breeding ground for terrorism.All countries should abandon their geopolitical calculation and ideological biases and reject double standards
and selectivity to safeguard the greater good of international counter-terrorism cooperation,& he said. In conclusion, he said that China
remains committed to respecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, respecting the independent choice
of the Afghan people, and respecting the religious beliefs and national customs of the country.China never interferes in Afghanistan&s
internal affairs, never pursues any selfish gains in Afghanistan, and never seeks to build a so-called sphere of influence.China has always
been action-oriented in supporting the country&s peace, stability, development, and prosperity
We stand ready to work with all sides to strengthen Council unity and consensus to make greater contributions to addressing the Afghan
issue.& The post China calls for more humanitarian aid, economic cooperation in Afghanistan first appeared on Ariana News.
