Foreign Military Troops Leave, China: Afghanistan Opens A New Page

JAKARTA - China called the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan a 'turning new page' after the 20-year conflict on Tuesday, after previously criticizing the exit process which was considered chaotic.

Beijing has repeatedly denounced what it sees as a hasty and unplanned US withdrawal, saying it is ready to deepen "friendly and cooperative" ties with the Taliban after their takeover.

The United States completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan last Monday, ending its longest war with cries of shame at home and celebratory gunfire in Kabul from the Taliban.

"Afghanistan has been able to liberate itself from foreign military occupation", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing, citing Sputnik News, August 31.

"The Afghan people have ushered in a new beginning for peace and national reconstruction and Afghanistan has turned a new page", he said.

The Chinese embassy in Kabul remains operational, although Beijing began evacuating Chinese nationals from the country several months ago due to deteriorating security.

Beijing, however, has not recognized the Taliban as the de facto government and is wary of militant groups providing support to Uighur separatists, a Muslim minority seeking to infiltrate the sensitive border region of Xinjiang.

"We hope Afghanistan will form an open, inclusive, and widely representative government and firmly crack down on all kinds of terrorist forces", Wang said.

Earlier, a high-level Taliban delegation met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tianjin last month, pledging Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militants.

For Beijing, a stable and cooperative government in Kabul will pave the way for the expansion of its overseas infrastructure efforts, analysts say. Meanwhile, the Taliban may view China as an important source of investment and economic support.

To note, Chinese companies have also been eyeing extensive copper and lithium mines in Afghanistan> However, experts say the precarious security situation means any immediate commodity rush by investors is unlikely.