China on Wednesday became the first country to appoint an envoy to Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021. A Taliban spokesperson confirmed the same by stating that the new Chinese ambassador presented his credentials to the Taliban's Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund.
"Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, accepted the credentials of Mr Zhao Xing, the new Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, during a ceremony," said the Taliban administration's deputy spokesman, Bilal Karimi in a statement.
During the ceremony, the newly appointed Chinese envoy expressed his happiness on his role to further strengthen Sino-Afghan relations. He added that China fully respects Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity.
“It is a place of honour for me to start my work as the Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan. He also mentioned the virtues of the leadership of the People’s Republic of China. Wishes and greetings were presented to the Prime Minister Alhaji Mulla Mohammad Hassan Akhund.”
The appointment of an envoy by China marks a sharp deviation from the global community's stand after the Taliban grabbed power in a conflict-ridden nation in August 2021.
First Published: Sept 13, 2023 4:40 PM IST
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