Astana: China's President Xi Jinping has urged for "strengthened coordination" with Afghanistan to aid in the reconstruction and development of the South Asian country, which has been ravaged by conflict. Xi's remarks were made during the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, as per a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

According to Anadolu Agency, Xi emphasized the importance of collaboration with Afghanistan to boost its development capacity and achieve peace, stability, and reconstruction at an early date. He addressed the leaders of five Central Asian countries, some of which share a border with Afghanistan, underscoring their proximity and shared interests. Xi referred to Afghanistan as a "close neighbor" to both China and Central Asia, highlighting the geographical and strategic significance of the region.

The nations of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan directly share borders with Afghanistan. Additionally, the Wakhan Corridor, a mountain pass, connects Afghanistan to China through the Xinjiang region. Xi's call for cooperation comes at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with an economic crisis, exacerbated by the freezing of $7 billion in Afghan foreign assets by the United States.

The US, under the former Biden administration, blocked the release of these assets following the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, which saw the Taliban regain control in Kabul. Despite the challenging economic and political situation, trade relations between China and Afghanistan have continued, with bilateral trade volume reaching $1.59 billion last year, according to Chinese government data.

China has taken notable diplomatic steps, becoming the first country to accept an ambassador from the Taliban-led interim administration in January of last year. Recently, China sent its envoy to Kabul in September 2023. While no UN member state has officially recognized the interim administration, the United Nations maintains an office in Kabul to coordinate its activities.

In a related development, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the deputy administrative prime minister of Afghanistan, is currently visiting China with a high-level Afghan delegation, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic engagements between the two countries.