SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Thursday briefed reporters on a series of important consensuses reached at the second informal meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran on the Afghan issue after chairing the meeting.
The first is to reaffirm respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, and support the determination of the country's political future and development path in accordance with the "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" principle.
The second is to pay attention to the current security situation involving terrorism in Afghanistan, and urge the Afghan interim government to take more visible measures, fulfill its commitment to contain and resolutely fight terrorism, disintegrate and eliminate all types of terrorist organizations, prevent the territory of Afghanistan from being used by any terrorist forces, and take effective measures to protect the security and legitimate rights and interests of foreign institutions and citizens in Afghanistan.
The third is to call on the Afghan ruling authorities to form an inclusive government to protect the basic rights and interests of all Afghan people, including women, children and ethnic minorities.
The fourth is to emphasize that the United States and its allies bear historical responsibility for the current difficult situation in Afghanistan; should lift immediately unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, and return immediately overseas funds belonging to the Afghan people; and should not build military bases again in Afghanistan and the region.
The fifth is to call on the international community to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, to help Afghanistan effectively control drugs and develop alternative planting, and enhance its capacity for independent and sustainable development.
The sixth is to support all diplomatic efforts that are conducive to the political settlement of the Afghan issue, and support the international community, especially the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the foreign ministers' meeting on the Afghan issue among neighboring countries of Afghanistan, and the "Moscow format" consultations on Afghanistan to play a substantive role. ■
