The Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, Wang Yu, announced the arrival of the first Chinese humanitarian aid shipment to Kabul on Wednesday night.

"This assistance demonstrates the deep friendship of the Chinese people with the Afghan people and demonstrates China's role as an important country," the Chinese Ambassador said on Twitter on Thursday.

2/2The assistance shows deep love and friendship of Chinese people to Afg people and reflects China's role as a major country that keeps its promises and is kind to its neighbors, which is a great move to build a community with a shared future for mankind,

— Wang Yu 王愚 (@ChinaEmbKabul) September 29, 2021

"The assistance will be handed over to the Ministry of Refugees," Yu added.

The shipment arrived at Kabul Airport amid grave humanitarian and livelihood challenges in Afghanistan, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

China has decided to urgently provide food, winter materials, COVID-19 vaccines, and medicines worth 200 million yuan, according to Yu. 

Once the country becomes secure and stable, China is willing to build projects that will contribute to improving people's livelihood and supporting peace, reconstruction, and the economic development of Afghanistan within China's capacity, the Ambassador added.

Chinese-Afghan relations

Last month, after the Taliban overtook Afghanistan, Beijing announced its willingness to deepen "friendly and cooperative" relations with Afghanistan.

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying disclosed that the Taliban have expressed their desire to develop good relations with China, detailing that they aspire to see China's participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. 

Chunying expressed China's respect for the Afghan people's right to self-determination and its willingness to develop friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan.