Russia offered to hold a meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow, and China is for the early formation of an Afghan government of national unity
Russia attaches importance to hold a regular meeting of the SCO – Afghanistan contact group as soon as such an opportunity arises. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while he was opening a meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in a videoconference format. As the Minister emphasized, it is impossible for Afghanistan to enter the path of peaceful development without the participation of regional states, particularly within the framework of the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan and other inclusive mechanisms. “It is necessary to promote interaction through the SCO – Afghanistan contact group. In particular, we consider it important to hold its next meeting as soon as possible,” said he. According to him, the Russian side offers to focus its work on the implementation of the road map, which was adopted at the summit in Bishkek in June last year. Well, China hopes that the relevant parties in Afghanistan will put their country’s and people’s interests first and establish an inclusive government of national unity at the earliest possible date. This was stated at a press briefing by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian. Noting that China and Afghanistan are neighbors connected by long-standing friendship and strategic cooperation partners, Zhao Lijian said that China hopes for establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan as soon as possible.
