Economic sanctions on Afghanistan must end, says Chinese FM Wang Yi

Beijing: China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the various unilateral sanctions and restrictions on Afghanistan should be lifted as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, at a virtual G20 foreign ministers meeting on Afghanistan, the Chinese foreign ministry said, “Economic sanctions on Afghanistan must end”.

The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union and works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.

Wang Yi said that Afghanistan's foreign exchange reserves are national assets that should belong to country's people and be used by its own people, and not be used as a bargaining chip to exert political pressure on country.

The Chinese diplomat further added, “Afghanistan’s peaceful reconstruction and medium- and long-term development cannot do without financial support from the international community”.

 “International financial institutions should also provide financing support for Afghanistan’s poverty reduction, sustainable development, people’s livelihood, and infrastructure projects,” he stated.

Wang Yi also called on the Group of 20 (G20) to speed up their efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

He further said that Taliban has announced the establishment of an interim government—meaning their domestic and foreign policies were still being adjusted and have not yet been fully finalised.

Earlier this month, China announced that it had decided to provide 200 million yuan ($30.96 million) worth of grains, winter supplies, vaccines and other medicines to Afghanistan, including an initial 3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.