Chinese Diplomats to Meet Afghan Interim Government Officials

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

Chinese Diplomats to Meet Afghan Interim Government Officials

A group of Chinese diplomats will be sent to inspect the Chinese embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, and meet officials of the Afghan interim government officials there.

A group of Chinese diplomats will be sent to inspect the Chinese embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, and meet officials of the Afghan interim government officials there.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told the press Friday at the routine press conference.

According to sources, the team, led by Zhang Min, a senior official with years of working experience in Afghanistan, is scheduled to leave Beijing for Afghanistan Friday.

China closed its embassy in Kabul in 1993 for security reasons.

It is reported that a power-transfer ceremony is to be held in Kabul on December 22, during which Northern Alliance chief Burhanuddin Rabbani will hand over the power to the head of the interim government Hamid Karzai.

On such development, Zhang commented that the establishment of the Afghan interim government in the war-torn country is "an important step towards peace."

She also said that China will actively participate in the post-war reconstruction in Afghanistan.

More Aid to Afghan Refugees

China will continue to provide assistance to the Afghan refugees now in Pakistan and Iran within its capacity, the spokeswoman said.

The Chinese government and the Red Cross Society of China have already provided aid to the Afghan refugees.

She said that for humanitarian concern, China has provided assistance to Afghanistan "through different channels, including the International Federation of Red Cross" since 1980.

China to Actively Participate in Afghan Reconstruction

China will take an active part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan as well as continue to provide humanitarian aid to that country, Zhang said Thursday.

Through joint efforts by different Afghan parties, an interim government will soon be established in Afghanistan, which is an important step for peace in that country.

China has always cherished friendship with the Afghan people, and has provided assistance to them within its capacity, she said.

The ten projects including the irrigation system in Parwan and a hospital in Kandahar, built by China for Afghan people, have made satisfactory profits, and are praised by local people, Zhang said.

Since the September 11 terrorist attack in the U.S., the Chinese government has started temporary aid programs and has provided goods for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran, Zhang said.

Chinese representatives also attended meetings on the reconstruction of Afghanistan held in Washington and Islamabad, she said.

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