- Title: Taliban "will not repeat the past", China's foreign ministry says
- Date: 19th August 2021
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 19, 2021) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON HUA CHUNYING ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, HUA CHUNYING, SAYING: "Although the situation in Afghanistan is not yet completely clear, we believe that the Taliban will not repeat the past. The Taliban are now more clear-headed and rational than the last time when they were in power. We encourage and hope that the Taliban will uphold their positive stance and implement it." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, HUA CHUNYING, SAYING: "We have also noticed there are some people who repeatedly stress they have no trust in the Taliban. I want to say that nothing in this world remains unchanged. We advocate a comprehensive connection and development of authentic understanding to look at and treat the issues. We must not only look at the past, but also at the present. We must not only listen to what is being said, but also look at what is being done. If we don't keep up with the times, and instead stick to a fixed mindset and ignore developments in the situation, then we are being stubbornly foolish and there will not be a realistic ending." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2021 12:28
- Keywords: Afghanistan Beijing China Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying Taliban women's rights
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EQY1VLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:China said on Thursday (August 19) it believed the Taliban had changed and history would not repeat itself, days after the Islamist militants' rapid conquest of Afghanistan culminated with the insurgents taking the capital on the weekend.
"The Taliban are more clear-headed and rational than last time when they were in power. We encourage and hope that the Taliban will uphold their positive stance and implement it," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters in a regular news briefing in Beijing.
The Taliban have presented a moderate face to the world since they marched into Kabul on Sunday (August 15), saying they want peace, will not take revenge against old enemies and will respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law.
Flag-waving protesters took to the streets of several Afghan cities on Thursday as popular opposition to the Taliban spread, and a witness said several people were killed when the militants fired on a crowd.
(Production: Wang Shubing, Pak Yiu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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