The World Should Support Afghanistan: Wang Yi

The world should guide and support Afghanistan as it transitions to a new government instead of putting more pressure on it, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday in a call with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

The situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has retaken power 20 years after it was forced out by a US-led invasion, remains unstable and uncertain, Wang was quoted as saying by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The international community should encourage and guide it in a positive direction instead of exerting more pressure," which will be conducive to stabilising the situation, he added, according to the ministry's statement on the call.

China has not officially recognised the Taliban as the new rulers but Wang last month hosted Mullah Baradar, chief of its political office, in Tianjin and said the Taliban were expected to play an important role in Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction process.

In the call with Raab, Wang also said the international community should not use Afghanistan as a geopolitical battleground but should respect its independence and the will of its people, the foreign ministry statement said.

China is willing to strengthen communication with Britain on vaccines, treatment and tracing the origins of the coronavirus, Wang added. (Reuters)