Beijing: China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday announced USD 31 million aid to Afghanistan, endorsing the new caretaker government “Islamic Emirate” of Taliban.
Hua Chunyin, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said the decision was announced during the first meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and would be “for emergency use to the Afghan people”, reported CNN.
China will provide almost USD 31 million worth of food, winter weather supplies, vaccines, and medicine to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also announced that China will donate 3 million vaccine doses to Afghanistan in the first batch, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. It is not clear when the vaccines are scheduled to be delivered, reported CNN.
Speaking at the Foreign Minister’s meeting in Beijing via video link, Wang also said the United States and its allies were more obligated than any other country to provide economic and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent Taliban takeover, Wang said the US should “assume their responsibilities” in the country by helping ensure its development and stability while “respecting the sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan,” Xinhua reported.