SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Apr 14 (NNN-UzA) – Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, yesterday attended the fourth foreign ministers’ meeting, among neighbouring countries of Afghanistan in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.
The meeting, chaired by Uzbekistan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov was attended by Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Tajik Foreign Minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Vepa Hajiyev, and Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar.
Qin said, the current situation in Afghanistan is characterised by concerns amid stability as well as turmoil, and is in a critical period of domestic and foreign policy adjustment and transformation, which calls for attention and input from the international community, especially its neighbours.
“All parties should demonstrate the spirit of good-neighbourliness, friendship and mutual assistance, push forward the implementation of the outcome of previous foreign ministers’ meetings, and speak with one voice on supporting Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development and promoting regional security and stability,” said Qin.
He stressed, the long-standing Afghan issue is the result of both “old diseases that have not been cured” and “new ones,” and Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries should play leading role in helping Afghanistan overcome difficulties and challenges and achieve stable development.
Qin put forward a four-point proposal.
The first is to crack down on terrorist forces in Afghanistan, remove the breeding ground for terrorism at its source, and resolutely prevent Afghanistan from becoming a sanctuary, breeding ground and spreading source of terrorism again.
“At the same time, we need to deepen regional cooperation on counterterrorism, drug control and refugees, strengthen border control, and jointly help Afghanistan enhance its counterterrorism capabilities to effectively curb cross-border terrorist flows and destabilisation.”
Second, the U.S. should fulfill its responsibilities. The U.S. is the initiator of the Afghan problem and has yet to reflect on the serious harm it caused to the Afghan people. The U.S. should immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return Afghanistan’s overseas funds.
Third, he called on Afghan Taliban to build inclusive governance. On the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and national self-esteem of Afghanistan, the neighbours should guide the Afghan Taliban to follow the trend of the times, learn from the mature practices of other Muslim countries, and show more inclusiveness and progressiveness in the establishment and specific governance of political power.
The fourth is to carry out practical cooperation related to Afghanistan.
The neighbouring parties will speed up the implementation of the Tunxi Initiative, support Afghanistan in leveraging its geographical advantage as the “heart of Asia,” integrate itself into regional connectivity and economic integration, and enhance its capacity for independent and sustainable development.
The participating parties conducted in-depth discussions on the Afghan issue, and agreed that the meeting of neighbouring foreign ministers is held at the right time. Countries in the region, which share a common destiny, should strengthen coordination and cooperation, jointly implement the Tunxi Initiative and promote regional connectivity.
The meeting issued the Samarkand declaration of the fourth foreign ministers’ meeting among the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan.
After the meeting, Qin attended the “Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan Plus Afghanistan” foreign ministers’ dialogue.
Also yesterday, Qin chaired the second informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran, on the Afghan issue, and respectively met with Lavrov, and Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Afghan interim government.– NNN-UzA
