China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul to discuss cooperation with the international community, regional diplomacy, and Afghanistan’s reconstruction and stability.
In a statement on Friday, Xiaoyong described the meeting on his X account as “very good” and noted that it followed recent trilateral talks involving the foreign ministers of China, the Taliban, and Pakistan. Those discussions focused on enhancing cooperation among neighbouring countries and fostering broader international engagement for Afghanistan’s recovery.
According to a press release from the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed strengthening bilateral ties based on political relations, economic collaboration, and mutual interests. The Chinese envoy reportedly reiterated Beijing’s commitment to continued political and economic support for Afghanistan under the principle of good neighbourliness.
The trilateral meeting, held in Beijing in May, marked a notable step in regional diplomacy. Following the talks, the Taliban and Pakistan upgraded their diplomatic relations to the ambassadorial level.
While nearly four years have passed since the Taliban took power in August 2021, no country other than Russia has officially recognised the group as Afghanistan’s legitimate government. However, China remains one of the Taliban’s closest international partners.
Beijing has consistently called for the easing of international sanctions on the Taliban and has supported broader diplomatic engagement.
