Why China Gives Huge Financial Aid to Afghanistan (II)

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 31, 2002

Why China Gives Huge Financial Aid to Afghanistan (II)

"After the start of its reconstruction, Afghanistan needs huge amounts of materials and financial aid. I have stressed on many international occasions that Afghanistan is like a car on its onward run. When Afghan people are sitting in the driver's cab and controlling the steering wheel in their advance, we resolutely oppose others treading on the throttle or applying a brake, the Afghan people should be allowed to become genuine drivers.

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The following article is about a call on a Chinese ambassador in charge of Afghan affairs, the source of which is drawn from China Youth Daily. This is the second part. To view the first part, please click here.

Sincere Assistance, Non-interference in Internal Affairs

At the Tokyo Conference and other meetings related to Afghanistan, Ambassador Wang emphatically pointed out, "China is sincere in aiding Afghanistan". China hopes that the Afghan government and people will unfailingly play a leading role in the process of Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction. The parties concerned may provide help for Afghanistan, but they must not interfere in the country's sovereignty, internal affairs and territorial integrity, the Afghan people should become the drivers in name and in reality, they should not be those who sit in the driver's cab, but allow others to control the throttle and apply the brake."

"When I mentioned this at the Brussels Conference and the Tokyo Conference, the participants smiled a smile of understanding, because they all knew what I meant. Many countries supported my stand, some even held up their thumbs in approval. China sincerely hopes Afghanistan can realize peace, national conciliation and commencement of reconstruction as quickly as possible, so that the Afghan people could shake off their past suffering and lead a new life in this land with an ancient culture and history. China has always stressed that it will absolutely not interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs."

Basing himself on the above-mentioned stand of China, "the Afghan interim government President Hamid Kazai personally told me twice in Tokyo, 'I'm very grateful to China, because it provides aid to its neighbor in a sincere and friendly manner'. The statements made by Abdullah, foreign minister of the Afghan interim government are even more moving, he said, 'China is a very wonderful neighbor, it provides aid and does good things for Afghanistan, but it never intervene in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.' The China-aid-Afghanistan projects, such as Kandahar Hospital and other major water conservancy projects, are today still benefiting the Afghan people. Coincidentally, this foreign minister came from the region where the water conservancy project was built with China aid in Afghanistan, he has never for a moment forgotten that China-aid project. The Afghan government's unanimous recognition of China's aid to Afghanistan is the result of many years of Chinese diplomatic efforts."

It is reported that aside from providing financial and material assistance, China will possibly send to Afghanistan peace-keeping and medical teams and assist Afghanistan in its mine-clearance work, concerned Chinese departments are making active preparations for related work. The group for restoring the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan has set off for Afghanistan for making final preparation for restoring the embassy.

On January 25, Sun Guoxiang disclosed that the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan would formally be restored on February 6, Vice-foreign Minister Wang Yi will lead a delegation to Afghanistan to preside over the ceremony for the occasion. He will be the highest ranking official from China to visit Afghanistan in recent years. He will get into contacts with Afghan government officials, with regard to with whom he will contact, Sun Guoxiang said, "We will follow the practice, known as "the guest suits the convenience of the host".

Diplomatic Anecdotes: "Tears Course down the Old Man's Cheeks"

Seven years ago, this reporter came to know for the first time the name of Ambassador Wang Xuexian on television. At that time, he was the permanent Chinese deputy representative to the United Nations, engaging in China's multilateral diplomacy. Five years ago, it was in South Africa that this reporter saw Ambassador Wang for the first time. At that time he was just appointed the first Chinese ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to South Africa, engaging in China-South Africa bilateral diplomatic work. Nowadays, when this reporter had the first interview with him, he had become Chinese ambassador in charge of Afghan affairs and Chinese ranking official for Asian-European Conference, engaging in China's bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. At the moment, Ambassador Wang has passed his retirement age (officially set at 60 for male). When asked what he felt about change in the different parts he had assumed and acting, Ambassador Wang said humorously, "I'm now like waste material turned into good account, I'm quite contented with the ability to do something more for my country, these are my sincere words."

At the farewell reception held for the conclusion of his 3.5-year term of the Chinese ambassador to South Africa, several dozen Chinese nationals in South Africa wept together, envoys from some countries were moved to tears. Prior to this, although Ambassador Wang had encountered several moving scenes, he said scenes like this one was seldom seen, and this setting had been truthfully recorded by the Shandong TV Station. It is reported that before the departure of Ambassador Wang, locals of Chinese origin had hurriedly rehearsed recitals of long poems, weeping while rehearsing. While recital was formally staged, that scene had moved me to weep bitterly," said the ambassador emotionally.

On June 19, 1997, Ambassador Wang attended a UN Security Council meeting to discuss and put to vote the 1101 Resolution on prolonging the UN peace-keeping period in Albania, China's stand on this resolution was an "abstention". At that time, sitting beside Ambassador Wang was the Chilean permanent representative to the United Nations. The two men often "chatted" endlessly at ordinary time. That day at the meeting, the voting began as the two men were chatting. At the beginning those countries which "favored" raised their hands, the Chilean ambassador also raised his hand in favor. "When I was just about to raise my hand, two colleagues sitting behind me pressed down my hand tightly, I had almost put a vote "for". When the president asked those who "abstained from voting to raise their hands", Ambassador Wang deliberately held his right hand high, instantly the whole place was astir with laughter featuring good will and understanding. After the meeting, the Chilean ambassador time and again expressed his apologies to Ambassador Wang. Today when talking about this, Ambassador Wang said frankly, "If I should have raised my hand at that time, I could still make a speech for remedy thereafter, of course, doing so was definitely not good"!

Ambassador Wang said when he was sent on a diplomatic mission to the United Nations, once he went to Arizona State Chamber of Commerce in west America to deliver a speech, there was an audience of more than 800 people down the stage. When he mentioned about the need for China and the United States to strengthen understanding, the ambassador said, "Before I came to Arizona, the impression I got through film and other mass media was that each resident of Arizona had two guns: one rifle and one pistol, they would fire at any one who was offensive to their eyes. But "after I came here I found some of you do have guns, but I also discovered you are very friendly. This shows that China and the United States need to strengthen understanding, this can be achieved not only through mass media, but also through the direct contacts between the two peoples." Hardly had he finished speaking, laughter resounded throughout the place and a burst of applause arose. After conclusion of the speech, the pet phrase used by many people in greeting the ambassador became "opening fire at the moment of meeting".

In addition, media reports say in October 1995, OAU (Organization of African Union) Secretary-Salem briefed the ambassadors of 15 Security Council member states in the UN about the African situation. Salem's remarks all involved difficult problems, such as the frequent conflicts, increasing numbers of refugees, the deficiency of foreign aid and peace-keeping ineffectiveness in the African region. Given this, the whole place was filled with a strong atmosphere and presented a face of "old society". At the time, Ambassador Wang began speaking in English, "Previously in the Security Council we were used to saying 'we welcome the UN Secretary-general Boutros Boutros (Ghali) to come to the meeting'; today, I would say 'we welcome OAU Secretary-general Salem, Salem to the meeting'" The use of the overlapping names of the two secretaries-general as the opening remarks is not only neat and orderly, but is also pleasing to the ear. This livened up the atmosphere of the whole meeting place.

By People's Daily Online

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