Economic Sanctions On Afghanistan Must End, Says Chinese FM Wang Yi At G20

<p>New Delhi: Economic sanctions against Afghanistan must end and unilateral restrictions on the country should be lifted as soon as possible, Chinese state councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi has said. Urging that economic sanctions on Afghanistan must end, the Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement, citing Wang at a virtual G20 foreign ministers meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday, according to news agency Reuters.</p> <p>Afghanistan's foreign exchange reserves are national assets that should belong to the country's people and be used by its own people, and not be used as a bargaining chip to exert political pressure on Afghanistan, he said.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://ift.tt/3hZhcEH Modi Spent His Time 'Going Through Work Files' During The Long Flight To US Before His Packed Visit</a></strong></p> <p>The Chinese diplomat also stressed that Afghanistan&rsquo;s peaceful reconstruction and medium- and long-term development cannot do without financial support from the international community.</p> <p>Afghanistan's foreign exchange reserves are national assets that should belong to the country's people and be used by its own people, and not be used as a bargaining chip to exert political pressure on Afghanistan, he said.</p> <p>The Chinese diplomat also stressed that Afghanistan&rsquo;s peaceful reconstruction and medium- and long-term development cannot do without financial support from the international community.</p> <p>Meanwhile, special envoys of China, Russia, and Pakistan have met the top officials of the interim Taliban government as well as Afghan leaders Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul and discussed the formation of an inclusive government, combating terrorism, and handling the humanitarian situation.</p> <p>The three special envoys have held talks with acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi, Finance Minister, and other high-level officials of the interim government, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, as per the news agency PTI.</p> <p>Officials also met with former president Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, President of the Council for National Reconciliation under the previous government.</p> <p>This is for the first time that the foreign diplomats met Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah who remained in Kabul even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last month ahead of the withdrawal of the US and NATO troops.</p>