Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to step up efforts to counter “threats” emerging from Afghanistan.
Both the leaders exchanged views on a call a day after G7 leaders met to discuss the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.
According to the Kremlin, the leaders “expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanistan”.
They also spoke of the “importance of establishing peace” in Afghanistan and “preventing the spread of instability to adjacent regions”.
Putin and Xi “agreed to intensify bilateral contacts” and “make the most of the potential” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tajikistan next month.
Xi reaffirmed China’s wish to respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and independence, according to China’s People Daily.
The Chinese news outlet also said that Putin told Xi he shared China’s positions and interests in Afghanistan and he was willing to work with China to “prevent foreign forces from interfering and destroying” Afghanistan.
Putin has criticized the involvement of outside powers in Afghanistan’s domestic affairs and said Moscow had “learnt lessons” from the Soviet Union’s decade-long invasion of the country.
Xi urged all parties in Afghanistan to build an open and inclusive political framework, implement moderate, stable policies and cut ties with all terrorist groups.
For its part, China said it is ready to deepen “friendly and cooperative relations” with Afghanistan.
Putin emphasized Russia’s wish to work with China to prevent drug smuggling and terrorism “spilling out” of Afghanistan.
