China sends more winter supplies to Afghanistan

(ECNS) -- The third Chinese freight train loaded with 1,000 tons of winter supplies departed for Afghanistan from Wuxi Railway Station in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Saturday, according to Zhao Lijian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Monday.

The goods on the train include winter food and cotton-padded clothes, cotton shoes, blankets, milk tea powder, etc., and will be delivered to Afghanistan by railway and road transport.

Afghanistan still faces a grave economic situation at the moment. The international community should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, promptly lend a helping hand and support Afghanistan to improve people's livelihoods, said Zhao.

"Unilateral sanctions, especially Afghanistan's frozen assets overseas, are collective punishment on all Afghans and are worsening the humanitarian disaster there. The frozen assets should be returned to the real owners as soon as possible, instead of being used as a tool for threats and coercion," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson stressed that as Afghanistan's friendly neighbor and sincere friend, China has been providing help for peace and reconstruction as well as economic development to the best of its abilities.

China is following through on 200 million yuan (about $31.3 million) worth of emergency humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, among which winter supplies have been delivered. More than 5,000 tons of grain and three million doses of COVID vaccines will be shipped in batches, according to Zhao.

"We will continue to heed the appeal and needs of the Afghan people and play a bigger and constructive part in helping Afghanistan survive its difficulties," the spokesperson added.