China Envoys to Visit Kabul, Mull Resuming Embassy

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 13, 2001

China Envoys to Visit Kabul, Mull Resuming Embassy

A team of six Chinese diplomats will leave on Friday for Afghanistan's war ravaged capital of Kabul to prepare for the possible reopening of its embassy there for the first time since 1993. Headed by a Foreign Ministry official Zhang Min, the team will inspect the conditions of the embassy building in Kabul and contact relevant sides. The timing of resuming the embassy depends on when peace accord can be achieved and when the new government of Afghanistan can take over the power.

Diplomatic Mission Long Abandoned

China abandoned its diplomatic mission in Kabul in 1993.

Right before 1993, the government was ousted by the muslim guerilla and began fighting among themselves for control of the city, Mr Zhang Min told reporters from Beijing Youth Daily.

Road Ahead Uncertain

Zhang said relative calm has begun to return to part of Afghanistan, although he was "not sure what will happen on them".

"It will not be as dangerous as before, but we must prepare for the rifle grenade and robbery which may happen at any time," Zhang said.

Timing of Resuming Depends

The timing of resuming the embassy will be decided after the inspection. It depends on when peace accord can be achieved and when the new government of Afghanistan can take over the power, according to Zhang.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a news conference earlier this week: "The Chinese Foreign Ministry is actively considering resuming work at the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan at the appropriate time,"

Other countries have sent similar missions to Kabul. US Marines entered their embassy on Monday for the first time in over a decade, along with a State Department assessment team.

Political Relations Between China and Afghanistan

China established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan on January 20, 1955. Since then the bilateral relations between the two countries have undergone a process of friendly development, descent and stagnation. Hi-level exchanges were frequently held.

In November 1963, China and Afghanistan signed the boundary treaty, thus finally completing the determination of the boundary of the two countries.

In April 1978, Mr. Noor Mohammad Taraki, Chairman of the People's Democratic Party became Chairman of the Council and Prime Minister of the government. The new Afghan government started to carry out a pro-Soviet Union and anti-China policy by throwing in its own lot with Soviet Union and conducting anti-China activities.

In February 1979, the Afghan government delivered a statement condemning China "invading" Viet Nam.

After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the Chinese government issued an official statement on December 30 strongly condemning the Soviet Union's armed invasion. China did not recognize the Babrak Karmal regime in Afghanistan which was propped up by the Soviet Union. Therefore, China retained its Embassy in Afghanistan, which, however, bore no official relation with the Afghan regime, except some routine work and consular and visa functions.

However, after the Najibullah regime collapsed in April 1992 and Afghan guerrillas came to power, different factions of Afghan guerrillas started fighting with each other. With the intensification of civil war in Afghanistan and for the sake of safety, China withdrew all its staff and diplomats of the Chinese Embassy in Kabul in February 1993.

Sources from Website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

China to Resume Embassy Work in Afghanistan