'China wants friendly relations with Taliban'

KATHMANDU: China on Monday said it wanted to establish friendly relations with the Taliban after the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, Kabul. 

According to the AFP news agency, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters, "Let the Afghan people decide their own future. China respects their right. China is willing to develop friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan.

Earlier, China signaled that it would open its embassy in Afghanistan. 

China has urged its citizens in Afghanistan to remain vigilant about the situation at home. 

China has also called on "different factions in Afghanistan" to protect its citizens. Representatives of the Taliban visited China last July and met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. 

At the time, the meeting was seen as international recognition of the Taliban as a political force. China's foreign ministry said it would pursue a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs.