“China’s stance on the Diaoyu Islands is consistent and clear,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a press briefing. (Photo : Photo/fmprc.gov.cn)
China has taken an active role in controversial regional issues as the first round of the four-party talks on Afghanistan took place in Islamabad on Monday, Jan. 11.
The meeting came just a day after Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming came back from a mediation trip in the Middle East after the sudden breaking of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China Daily reported.
Hong Lei, foreign ministry spokesman, pointed out at a daily news briefing that Zhang encouraged the two countries to "stay calm and restrained" and ease the tension. He added that the first meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Committee to resolve the Afghan problem sought to establish favorable conditions to push forward an Afghan reconciliation process led by the people.
China is ready to continue playing a constructive role in the process according to its respect for Afghanistan's independence and the will of different parties.
The same publication reported that Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan, Deng Xijun, is heading the Chinese designation in the talks, as well attended by senior officials from the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Niu Xinchun, acknowledged that China is playing a bigger role in hot regional matters as its overseas interests increase and obligations as a worldwide power grow.
In addition, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Pakistan's Senate Defense Committee Chairman, applauded China's presence at the four-party talks, saying that it is vital and that Beijing is playing an exceptional role.
On the other hand, the vice president of the China Institute of International Studies, Dong Manyuan, said, "Afghanistan is an important neighbor of China, and Beijing expects to see a peaceful and stable Afghanistan."
The talks are meant to look for options to revitalize the delayed discussions between Kabul and the Taliban.
