China says prepared to build friendly ties with Taliban

China stated on Monday that it is prepared to build "friendly ties" with the Taliban following the terror group's takeover of Afghanistan. Addressing the media, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "China respects the Afghan people's right to decide their own future and is prepared to continue developing... friendly and cooperation ties with Afghanistan." 

She went on to say that China respects the Afghan people's right to decide their own future and is eager to maintain friendly and constructive relations with Afghanistan. The spokeswoman also urged the Taliban to "ensure a peaceful transition of power" and to maintain its pledges to negotiate the formation of a "open and inclusive Islamic government" and to protect Afghans and international nationals.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Chinese embassy advised Chinese people still in Afghanistan to "pay special attention to the security situation" and remain indoors.

China and Afghanistan share a 76-kilometer-long border and Beijing has long worried that Afghanistan would serve as a staging ground for Xinjiang's Muslim minority Uyghur rebels.

Earlier, the United States and more than 60 countries issued a joint statement and urged the Taliban to let Afghans and other citizens leave the country and keep the borders open.

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• Afghanistan
• China
• Taliban
• Hua Chunying