China says sanctions on Afghanistan must end as soon as possible

BEIJING, Sept 23 Reuters - Wang Yi, China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister, said the various unilateral sanctions or restrictions on Afghanistan should be lifted as soon as possible.

Economic sanctions on Afghanistan must end, said the Chinese foreign ministry in a statement, citing Wang at the virtual G 20 foreign ministers meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Afghanistan's foreign exchange reserves are national assets that should belong to the country's people and be used by its own people, and not be used as a bargaining chip to exert political pressure in Afghanistan, he said.