In a significant move, China on Tuesday accepted the credentials of the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s envoy to Beijing. In a formal ceremony, President Xi Jinping accepted the credentials of the Afghan ambassador.
At the same ceremony, ambassadors of 41 other countries also presented their credentials to the Chinese president. Xi, while accepting the credentials of Bilal Karimi as the ambassador and special representative, welcomed him as an ambassador to China.
Karimi, who joined as ambassador to China in December 2023, also met the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. With this ceremony, Afghanistan has become an associate of China.
CNN-News18 had earlier reported about Karimi’s appointment when he was accepted by China as the official ambassador of the Islamic Emirate. The Afghan foreign ministry had said that Karimi handed over a copy of his credentials to Hong Li, the chief ceremonial officer of the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs.
China has, on multiple occasions, said it respects the national sovereignty of Afghanistan and its decisions. It has also said it does not interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
China already manages mining contracts in Afghanistan. It had also appointed its full-time ambassador in Kabul, who presented his diplomatic credentials to Taliban’s Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhud.
By doing so, China became the first country to appoint a full-time ambassador to Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. It was a signal that China is ready for big investments and expanding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Afghanistan.
Last year, however, China had said the Afghan Taliban must reform before full diplomatic ties. It had said the government will need to introduce political reforms, improve security and mend relations with its neighbours before receiving full diplomatic recognition. At the same time, both countries were hosting each other’s ambassadors and maintaining diplomatic engagement.
It had also said that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community, but the Taliban must respond to the expectations of the international community.
The Taliban government has not been officially recognised by any country since seizing power after the chaotic withdrawal of US troops in August 2021. Afghanistan’s new rulers have promised the country will not be used as a base for militants and, in exchange, China had offered economic support and investment for reconstruction.
(With agency inputs)
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