The interim government of the Islamist Taliban in Afghanistan has said it has received credentials from Xi Jinping's leadership from China's new ambassador. The interim government of the Taliban has not been recognized by the international community, but China seems to want to strengthen its relationship with the Taliban with a view to resource development and other factors.
According to the announcement by the interim government of the Taliban, which is at the helm in Afghanistan, a ceremony to welcome the newly appointed Chinese ambassador Zhao Xing was held in the capital Kabul on the 13th.
In this, Ambassador Zhao handed over the credentials from Xi Jinping's leadership to Acting Prime Minister Ahund.
According to officials in the interim government, other countries have ambassadors appointed during the previous administration, and China is the first time that a new ambassador has submitted credentials since the Taliban was reinstated.
No country has ever recognized a Taliban regime.
China's foreign ministry said it was "a normal shift and the purpose is to strengthen communication and cooperation between the two countries," but did not say whether the ambassador's submission of credentials constituted approval by the regime.
China wants to incorporate Afghanistan into the "One Belt, One Road" mega-economic zone initiative with resource development in mind, and it seems that it wants to strengthen relations even though the Taliban interim government is not recognized by the international community.