Wang Yi Chairs the First "Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan Plus Afghanistan" Foreign Ministers' Dialogue

On March 31, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the First "Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan Plus Afghanistan" Foreign Ministers' Dialogue in Tunxi, Anhui Province. Foreign Ministers and representatives of member states of the mechanism of coordination and cooperation among Afghanistan's neighboring countries as well as Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Interim Government Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the meeting. Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi attended the meeting as guests.

Wang Yi said that as neighboring countries of Afghanistan, we have witnessed the tragedy and disaster caused to the Afghan people by years of war and chaos, and also directly experienced the negative problems caused by the long-term chaos in Afghanistan. No country expects Afghanistan to achieve peace, stability, development and prosperity at an early date than we neighboring countries. After the previous two foreign ministers' meetings of neighboring countries of Afghanistan, we have made the shared voice of neighboring countries to the international community, demonstrated the unique role of neighboring countries, and guided the views and cognition of the international community on the Afghan issue.

Wang Yi introduced the third Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan, stressing that as countries in the region linked by mountains and rivers, we should choose cooperation over confrontation, openness over isolation, and equality over politics and bullying. We should urge the international community not to neglect the Afghan issue while focusing on the Ukraine issue, and continue to increase input in Afghanistan to help the Afghan people tide over the difficulties. We need to further build consensus and forge synergy to help Afghanistan stabilize the situation, effectively crack down on terrorism, improve people's livelihood and develop the economy. We need to fully implement the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle and work with the international community to support the Afghan people in pursuing a better future.

Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Interim Government Amir Khan Muttaqi thanked China for hosting the meeting and inviting Afghanistan to attend the meeting, expressed that Afghanistan attaches great importance to the concerns of all parties, and stressed that Afghanistan will never allow external forces to seize Afghanistan's territory, nor will it allow any force to use Afghanistan's territory against other countries. Afghanistan is committed to peaceful coexistence, friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with neighboring countries. Afghanistan has adjusted its governance priorities, is focused on achieving stability and promoting development, and is willing to become a link for regional connectivity and seek prosperity with its neighboring countries. Afghanistan expects its neighboring countries to offer the Afghan Interim Government diplomatic recognition as soon as possible.

Muttaqi said, the United States has undermined Afghanistan's political and economic sovereignty for a long time and destroyed and damaged facilities during its hasty withdrawal, which has made Afghanistan face great difficulties at present. Afghanistan is no longer willing to slavishly dependent on others and will no longer count on the alms-giving of the Western countries led by the United States. It urges the United States to immediately lift the freeze on Afghanistan's overseas assets and unreasonable sanctions against Afghanistan, and hopes that the international community will provide support and help for Afghanistan.

The foreign ministers and representatives of the participating countries spoke highly of China's establishment of a dialogue platform between neighboring countries and the Afghan Interim Government, saying that the dialogue has enhanced mutual understanding between countries in the region, especially between neighboring countries and the Afghan Interim Government, and deepened the understanding of all parties on the reality of Afghanistan, which helps to further build consensus and provide more substantive assistance for Afghanistan.

The parties elaborated their positions and propositions on the Afghan issue, and expressed the hope that the Afghan Interim Government will be more inclusive, resolutely and thoroughly combat terrorism and further protect the rights and interests of women and children. Muttaqi said, Afghanistan has reopened schools and students have returned to classes. Afghanistan has never stated that girls' education is prohibited. There are a large number of women in all sectors of Afghanistan, including health care and education. The Afghan Interim Government welcomes the participation of all ethnic groups in politics and will invite more professionals to participate in government work.

At last, Wang Yi said that this face-to-face exchange is beneficial and can continue to be arranged in the future. He hopes that the Afghan Interim Government will earnestly fulfill its commitments, and believes that all neighboring countries will continue to play a constructive role in the peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The parties agreed to continue the neighboring countries of Afghanistan plus Afghanistan foreign ministers' dialogue in the future.