China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, met with European Union officials this week to discuss the evolving situation in Afghanistan, highlighting efforts for the country’s reconstruction amid ongoing political, economic, and humanitarian crises.
Yue met with Tomas Niklasson, the EU’s special envoy for Afghanistan, and the bloc’s Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific. Following the meeting, Yue posted on X, that both sides stressed the need for “continuous engagement” and called for increased international attention to Afghanistan’s rebuilding efforts.
The discussions come as Afghanistan remains in turmoil following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The regime has yet to be recognized by any country, and the international community has urged the Taliban to uphold their commitments to human rights, form an inclusive government, and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorist groups.
Last week, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif jointly called on the Taliban to take “visible and verifiable” actions against terrorist organizations operating within Afghanistan. In a statement, the two leaders warned that such groups pose significant threats to both regional and global security.
The joint statement underscored the need for international cooperation in pressing the Taliban to prevent Afghan territory from being used to launch attacks on neighboring countries or beyond. It also emphasized the importance of encouraging the Taliban to form an inclusive government, a long-standing demand of the international community, as a condition for future recognition.
