A Chinese envoy on Monday asked the international community to continue to support Afghanistan.
The international community needs to continue to help Afghanistan improve the security environment, advance the peace and reconciliation process and promote socio-economic development, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.
The security situation on the ground is worsening with airstrikes and search operations, resulting in a considerable increase in civilian deaths. Terrorist groups remain active and drugs are still an important source of funding for these terrorist groups, Zhang told a Security Council meeting.
The withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan should be conducted in an orderly and responsible manner. The international community should provide training, funding and technical support to boost capacity building of the Afghan national security forces, and assist the country in effectively countering terrorism, transnational crime, drug trafficking, and other threats, said Zhang.
On the peace and reconciliation process, he said the international community and regional countries have been actively promoting direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, which have lent impetus to the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
China calls on all Afghan parties to put the interests of their country and people first, seize historic opportunities and engage in intra-Afghan talks to reach an extensive and inclusive political framework as early as possible and open up the doors to reconciliation, said Zhang.
He also asked the international community to help Afghanistan promote socio-economic development and improve the humanitarian situation.
Help is also needed to enable Afghanistan to participate in regional economic cooperation and connectivity and ultimately eradicate poverty and overcome challenges caused by natural disasters, he said.
