SinoDaily.com reports: “China said Friday it welcomed Russia’s decision to become the first country to recognise the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, vowing to ‘pursue a foreign policy of friendship towards the Afghan people’.

‘As a traditional friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, the Chinese side has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community,’ foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic law.

They have keenly sought official international recognition and investment, as the country recovers from four decades of war, including the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989.

China does not officially recognise the government but hosts a Taliban ambassador in Beijing…”