First Batch of China's Assistance to Afghanistan Arrives in Kabul

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 25, 2002

First Batch of China's Assistance to Afghanistan Arrives in Kabul

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

China Provides Donation to Afghanistan

The first batch of China's assistance to Afghanistan arrived in Kabul on Monday morning. This is part of the urgent humanitarian assistance worth 30 million yuan (about 3.6 million U.S. dollars) the Chinese government announced that it would provide to the Afghan interim administration, when the latter was established in December last year.

The assistance includes medical appliance and equipment, medicine, sports facilities and stationery, all of which are badly needed in war-torn Afghanistan.

Among the first batch of assistance were 500 cases of gentamyein sulfate for injection, 1,000 cases of benzypenicillin sodium for injection, 600 cases of paracetamol tablet, 200 cases of chalk and 2,000 mattresses.

The remainder of the assistance will be flown to Kabul in the next few days, and a delivery ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday.

Aid to Afghanistan, Meaningful Move: Official

Planes carrying the first batch of aid materials from China to Afghanistan landed safely at Kabul at midday Monday after a two-hour flight from Kashi Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

China said that the aid constituted evidence of long-term friendly ties between China and Afghanistan.

China would provide more assistance to the interim government of Afghanistan to rebuild the country and friendship between the two countries was expected to be further strengthened, said Chai Xi, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China had much trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan in peacetime. China had built dykes, hospitals and textile mills in Afghanistan, according to Wang Cheng'an, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Wang said that the first batch of aid materials, valued at 30 million yuan, and the following 150 million-US dollar aid project would help Afghanistan to build a peaceful environment and facilitate exchanges between the two sides in various fields.

An official with the Administrative Office of Kashi Prefecture said that a stable and peaceful environment in Afghanistan, which directly borders on Kashi, would greatly promote friendly exchanges and trade cooperation between China and Afghanistan.

Mainly for medical and students' use: earlier report

The personnel concerned of the Chinese embassy in Kabul said the first batch of goods in aid of Afghan cover mainly things for medical and students' use, including chalks and exercise-books for students. At 4:30 pm on Mar. 24, the reporter got to know that the first batch of goods was already ready for departure when he contacted the person in charge of transportation at the Kashi Airport. In the meanwhile the persons concerned at the Kashi Airport also informed the reporter that included in the goods were few diesel engines.

Sunday also saw the reporter have an interview with Zhang Min, Charge d'ffaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Kabul via a maritime satellite. According to him, the Chinese goods in aid of the Afghan mainly cover three categories: articles for medical use, sports equipment and students' stationery. "It will take one and half an hour for the plane to arrive in Kabul. However, the preparatory work has been carried out a week ago, during which the embassy personnel have for many times been in touch with the coordinating office for the aid of the Afghanistan Provisional Government. The 8:00 am next morning will see six to seven working personnel, including myself, of the Chinese embassy go to airport waiting for the plane to arrive," said Zhang Min in smile. "Our embassy has only nine working personnel and so this means the most hands available from the embassy for handling the matter."

When the first batch of goods for aiding the Afghan arrives, as is told the reporter, the embassy will have a small-scale ceremony held for handling over the goods and the responsible person from the Afghanistan Provisional Government will be present on the occasion. The goods for the aid come to a total of 560 tons. It takes one week with two flights a day to finish the transportation. When the goods arrive in Kabul they will be checked up according to the detailed list of the goods and handed over directly to the Afghanistan Government at the airport. As to how these goods are to be distributed it depends on the decision made by the ministries of health and education of the Afghanistan Provisional Government, said Zhang Min.

Zhang also revealed that the Chinese embassy is now getting in touch with the Afghanistan Provisional Government for some other aiding items.

As learned the high and primary schools in Afghan are ready to be in new semester now. There have been around 1.5 million students of high and primary schools taking part in the opening ceremony, including those girl pupils who were the first time to step into the school gate for education over the past six years.

China's voice and action on the Afghanistan Issue

Afghanistan Must Decide Its Own Fate: President Jiang

"Afghanistan's fate should be ultimately decided by the Afghan people, and at the same time the United Nations role is indispensable to the political solution of the Afghanistan issue," said Jiang in his in talks with General Muhammad Aziz Khan, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee of Pakistan.

China Actively Working for Political Solution to Afghanistan Issue: Spokeswoman

The Chinese Government has been actively pushing for a political solution to the Afghanistan issue, willing to continue its constructive role in this regard and China will actively develop relations with the interim government of Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said on December 6.

China Willing to Participate in the Rebuilding of Afghanistan

As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a neighbor of Afghanistan, China wants to see Afghanistan realize peace and stability as soon as possible, and is willing to participate in the rebuilding of Afghanistan after the war, Chinese FM spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said on November 22.

China to Give Afghanistan $3.6 Million of Aid, Multinational Force Supported

The Chinese government has decided to provide 30 million yuan (about 3.6 million US dollars) for urgent humanitarian aid to the interim government of Afghanistan and China voiced its hope that the new UN Security Council resolution will be conducive to peace and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Why China Gives Huge Financial Aid to Afghanistan(I)

China Donates Lions to Afghanistan

Jiang Hopes Afghanistan Rebuilding Successful

>> Full Coverage