China’s President Xi Jinping discussed the issue of Afghanistan with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone today, along with the broader strategic situation. Putin said the current evolution of the situation in Afghanistan shows that the external forces’ policy of forcibly implementing their political model will not work and will only bring destruction and disaster to the relevant countries. Russia and China share similar positions and common interests on the Afghan issue.
The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to their bilateral relationship, calling the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation this year “a new starting point” for their relationship. Xi said that with the fluctuation of the pandemic, the two should deepen vaccine research and development cooperation to secure the global vaccine supply chain. He drew the implications of the U.S. failure in Afghanistan, which showed that trying to impose some system that was not in tune with the culture and norms of the country was doomed to failure. “Only the wearer knows whether the shoe fits,” he said. Which system works in China and Russia, only the people living there can say. China and Russia must deepen anti-interference cooperation and firmly control the future and destiny of their respective countries in their own hands, he said.
On Afghanistan, Xi Jinping emphasized that China respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, pursues a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, and has always played a constructive role in the political settlement of the Afghan issue. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties in the international community, including Russia, and encourages all parties in Afghanistan to negotiate to build an open and inclusive political structure, implement a moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy, and completely cut off all contacts with various terrorist organizations, and cooperate with countries around the world, especially the neighboring countries.
