China Soon to Resume Embassy Work in Afghanistan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 26, 2001

China Soon to Resume Embassy Work in Afghanistan

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday that China will resume its Embassy work in Afghanistan as soon as possible. Zhang made the remarks at the regular press conference when briefing on the work of a group of Chinese diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan.

She said that the group arrived in Kabul December 19 and attended the ceremony for the establishment of the Afghan interim government.

Zhang Min, head of the group, also met with some officials of Afghanistan and conducted wide-ranging contacts with diplomats from other countries in Afghanistan, added the spokeswoman.

She noted that one of the group's important tasks is to make preparations for resuming Chinese Embassy's work at an earlier date, and the group has inspected the building of the Chinese Embassy to this end.

She said that the building has been seriously damaged with many facilities disfunctional since it was closed years ago.

The group will provide opinions on renovation of the building, and the renovation work will start soon, she added.

China closed its Afghan embassy in 1993 for security reasons.

China to Reopen Embassy in Kabul

A group of Chinese diplomats, led by senior official Zhang Min, on December 21arrived 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 Applauds Foundation of Afghan Interim Government

The Chinese government has extended congratulations to the foundation of the Afghan interim government and regards it as an important step towards lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing December 22.

Zhang said that China, as a neighbor of Afghanistan, has alwaysbeen concerned about the Afghan situation, and China, together with the international community, has made unremitting efforts towards an early solution to the Afghan issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister on Political Solution to Afghan Problem

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan called for a political solution to the Afghan issue through negotiation and dialogue at the United Nations. He proposed the following five principles when efforts are made to properly solve 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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