RASC News Agency: The Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan declined to comment on the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan during an interview, avoiding any statements on the matter. In an interview with the Iranian media outlet IRNA, Yue Xiaoyong stated that the international community should respect Afghanistan culture and the way Afghanistanis handle their internal affairs.
Chinese officials have repeatedly echoed this sentiment, urging others to respect the views of the Afghanistani people. Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding girls’ education, which remains a crucial and widely debated issue in Afghanistan, the Chinese envoy chose not to address it. Reiterating his stance against international interference in Afghanistan’s domestic matters, the envoy advised against imposing external solutions on Afghanistan issues.
Yue Xiaoyong, who is attending a regional contact group meeting in Tehran ahead of the third UN meeting on Afghanistan, stated, “The international community should refrain from imposing foreign solutions on Afghanistan issues.” Previously, China accepted a Taliban representative as Afghanistan’s ambassador in Beijing but has refrained from officially recognizing the Taliban administration as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
China maintains its diplomatic presence in Kabul at the ambassadorial level and has close ties with the Taliban. The country is seeking economic opportunities, particularly access to Afghanistan’s “mineral reserves.” Regarding the upcoming third UN meeting on Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong described it as “informal” and noted that it would be held behind closed doors.
He added, “We aim to reintegrate Afghanistan into the international community as soon as possible.” The Chinese envoy candidly criticized previous UN meetings on Afghanistan in Doha as “unsuccessful” due to the absence of Taliban representatives. He argued that discussing a sovereign nation without its representatives is ineffective.
