China to Reopen Its Embassy in Kabul after 8 Years

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 21, 2001

China to Reopen Its Embassy in Kabul after 8 Years

A group of Chinese diplomats, led by senior official Zhang Min, on Wednesday arrived at Bagram air base, about 50 kilometers north of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

"China closed its embassy in Kabul in 1993 for security reasons,and this time, we are planning to inspect our embassy buildings and try to resume our diplomatic mission at proper time," Zhang said.

Chinese Diplomats Hoist National Flag in Kabul (2)

A group of Chinese diplomats, led by senior official Zhang Min, on Wednesday arrived at Bagram air base, about 50 kilometers north of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Speaking to Xinhua on a UN flight to Kabul, Zhang said they are scheduled to inspect the Chinese embassy in Kabul and take part in the power-transfer ceremony on December 22, during which Northern Alliance chief Burhanuddin Rabbani will hand over the power to the head of the interim government Hamid Karzai.

"China closed its embassy in Kabul in 1993 for security reasons,and this time, we are planning to inspect our embassy buildings and try to resume our diplomatic mission at proper time," Zhang said.

"We will also hold a flag raising ceremony and replace the old national flag which has been flaunting there for more than eight years," he said.

Five-star Red Flag Fluttering in Afghan Sky

Replying to a question on post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan, Zhang said China deeply sympathizes with the Afghan people in their sufferings and will try its best to take an active part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan as well as continue to provide humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees.

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

Five principles proposed by the Chinese government in solving the Afghan problem

1, Efforts should be made to safeguard the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.

2, The Afghan people should be able to decide on the solution to their problem independently.

3, The future Afghan government should be broad-based, represent the interests of all ethnic groups in the country and develop good relations with Afghanistan's neighboring countries.

4, Efforts should be made to maintain the peace and stability in the region.

5, The United Nations should play a more constructive role in solving the Afghan problem.

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