China ready to boost trade, energy coop with Afghanistan

BEIJING, August 15 (Bernama) -- Beijing is ready to reinforce cooperation with Kabul in trade, economy, and energy sectors as Afghanistan is still at a "critical stage of transition from chaos to governance," the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Monday.

"We are ready to continue strengthening business cooperation with Afghanistan in such sectors as trade and economy, communications, agriculture and energy," the ministry said in a statement.

Beijing supports Chinese investments in Afghanistan and continues to develop correspondent projects in the country, calling on the global community to maintain contacts with the interim Afghan government.

"The international community should maintain contact with the interim Afghan government and facilitate the establishment of a wide and inclusive government as well as prudent governance," the statement read.

It also said that Beijing allocated about 350 million yuan (US$52 million) of humanitarian aid to Kabul via multilateral channels over the past year, including food, medicines, vaccines and winter clothing, and is set to continue providing humanitarian assistance to the country.

The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Their interim government was unable to curb the existing economic, humanitarian and security crises, which only exacerbated over the past year. Afghans en masse have been escaping from their homeland to neighbouring countries, including Iran, in fear of joblessness, hunger and the radical movement itself.

--BERNAMA