Karimi presents credentials in Beijing as Ambassador to China

KABUL (TOLOnews): Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on X that Bilal Karimi presented his credentials to the Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry of China, Hong Lei, as the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Beijing.
According to Balkhi, Karimi arrived in Beijing on November 24 and was welcomed by the Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, and acting diplomats of the Afghanistan embassy in China. Bilal Karimi worked in various positions of the Islamic Emirate, including as deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.
“He has been introduced officially as the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Beijing and he will inshallah provide good service. This will be a good step in recognition of the Islamic Emirate,” Mujahid told TOLOnews.
China has not said yet whether it regards the move as a step towards official recognition.
Political analysts believe that the acceptance of the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador by China is beneficial for the improvement of relations between Kabul and the international community. “The relations between the Islamic Emirate and China have become better. China wants to extend these relations,” said Wahid Faqiri, a political analyst.
“China is practically taking all actions for political engagement but it is not officially announcing this issue,” said Mehdi Manadi, former diplomat.
Meanwhile Balkhi quoted Karimi during his meeting with Lei as saying that it is time for the improvement of relations between China and Afghanistan.
Karimi also pledged that the Afghan soil will not be used against any country. According to Balkhi, the Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry of China said that China does not intend to interfere in the internal affairs of any country and that it wants to help improve Afghanistan’s economy and infrastructure through the Belt and Road initiative.
In September, China became the first country to formally name a new ambassador to Afghanistan since the Islamic Emirate takeover, after its envoy presented credentials at a ceremony in Kabul.