Delivering humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is a priority and should be done without delay, Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu said during a meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the interim Afghan government on Sunday.

Wang made the remarks ahead of the arrival of the first batch of emergency aid to Afghanistan from China.

China had announced that it would donate 200 million yuan ($31 million) worth of aid, including three million COVID-19 vaccine doses together with other emergency materials, to the Afghan people. Winter supplies will arrive in the coming days, while other supplies, including food, are scheduled to arrive soon.

During the meeting, Wang said China is paying close attention to the needs of the Afghan people. He reiterated China's commitment to providing timely humanitarian and anti-pandemic support for the Afghan people, and called on the international community to increase aid to the country without delay.

The ambassador also urged relevant parties to lift unilateral sanctions and restrictions against the country. He said the foreign exchange reserve of Afghanistan is a national asset that should belong to the people and should not be used as a bargaining chip to pressure the country.

China supports the UN's role in providing humanitarian assistance and safeguarding peace and stability in Afghanistan and urges the UNAMA and all UN agencies to perform their duties under the current mechanism.

China also welcomes other multilateral mechanisms to contribute to addressing the situation in Afghanistan, Wang added.

Muttaqi thanked China for its support, and said Afghanistan is ready to continue developing good-neighborly relations with China.

He added that Afghanistan needs the international community, especially neighboring countries, to provide more humanitarian assistance.

(Cover: Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu talks with interim Afghan government's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan, September 26, 2021. /CMG)