Matrix Report
The issue of Afghan refugee is one of the largest and longest-running refugee crisis in history. As a result of more than 40 years of war and conflict, 2.7 million Afghan refugees are currently scattered in more than 70 countries around the world. From 2002 to 2017, a total of 5.24 million refugees returned to Afghanistan, but the gap between humanitarian relief needs and funding continued to widen, and the Afghan refugee resettlement fee gap is as high as US $ 530 million. Because of lacking living skills and jobs, many refugees who have returned to Afghanistan have to leave their homes again and continue a displaced life.
As a responsible leading power and an important neighbor of Afghanistan, China has been cooperating with UNHCR, the governments of Pakistan, Iran and other countries to provide assistance to Afghan refugees. Taking recent years as an example, through bilateral channel, we have provided US $ 150,000 in cash assistance and US $ 2 million in material assistance to the Afghan government in 2017 to resettle the victims of the snow storm. Since 2018, China has donated more than 7,000 tons of rice and 800 tons of flour to the Afghan people, and provided more than US $ 220,000 in emergency supplies and cash assistance to Afghan refugees. In 2019, China donated about US $ 350,000 to the Afghanistan Red Crescent. Through the multilateral channels, China has provided US $ 1.3 million in material assistance to Afghan refugees in Pakistan through the Pakistani government and UNHCR. In 2018, after providing the United Nations with US $1 million in cash, China added an additional US $11.07 million to implement refugee assistance projects in Afghanistan, Iran and other countries. This year, China also plans to aid medical equipment worth US $ 250,000 to Afghan refugees in Pakistan for improving its medical conditions. As a neighboring country, Pakistan has accepted more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees and provided them with education and medical services. We highly appreciate Pakistan for its generosity and good-neighborly spirit. Iran also makes great efforts for Afghan refugees.
Now the opportunity to tackle the Afghan refugee issue appears. The situation in Afghanistan has entered a critical juncture. The United States and the Afghan Taliban are expected to reach a peace agreement soon, which will pave the way for the political parties in Afghanistan to start the intra-Afghan negotiation on the future domestic political arrangements. And the reconciliation negotiation will lead to the early peace in Afghanistan and start the reconstruction of Afghan. Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached significant consensus on the settlement of Afghan refugee issue within the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). Both sides have closely coordinated and cooperated in refugee registration and repatriation. It is the above developments that bring the hope of peace as well as prosperity to the Afghan refugees wandering in foreign lands.
Chinese often seek addressing both symptoms and root causes when solving a problem. We always believe that foreign assistance can only solve the symptoms in settling the Afghan refugee issue. However, addressing the root causes means resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation, achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region. In this context, I would like to share with you the following suggestions:
Firstly, cope with the Afghan refugee issue within the multilateral framework. The refugee issue is the common crisis of the mankind. In the context of reverse globalization emerging and populism prevailing, China calls on upholding the authority of multilateral mechanisms with the United Nations at the core, persisting in the main channels of UNHCR and other multilateral mechanisms in resolving the issue. We advocate fully implementing the Global Compact on Refugees on the basis of respecting the sovereignty of each country, jointly sharing the responsibilities in the huge task of settling the issue.
Secondly, development is the top priority. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the public good presented to the world by China. We believe that BRI could definitely play its role in international refugees governance. China is ready to enhance regional connectivity with Pakistan and Afghanistan, exploring the model to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) to Afghanistan. China sincerely welcomes the international partners to join this process. We are willing to initiate some social livelihood projects based on the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan trilateral cooperation mechanism, for example, Pakistan-Afghanistan border ports construction, education training, medical and health care. We hope these measures could contribute to the capacity building and self-reliance of the repatriating refugees, living in a more dignified manner.
Thirdly, maintain the order in the post troop-withdrawn period. We call on the relevant countries withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan in an orderly and responsible manner, ensuring a smooth and peaceful transition of Afghanistan situation. We expect that Afghan Government and Taliban could reach peaceful reconciliation. We hope the political parties of Afghan could establish a dialogue framework and initiate intra-Afghan negotiations in light of the Afghan-led and Afghan owned principle at an early time. Only by promoting the peace process could all parties create the conducive conditions for safe and sustainable self-repatriation of the refugees.
Fourthly, pursue the principles of “common but differentiated responsibility”. The developing countries currently receive 80% of refugees worldwide. The developed countries should effectively implement their aid commitments, increase humanitarian assistance to refugees, and help alleviate pressure on developing countries. Meanwhile, when dealing with refugee affairs, the international community should adhere to the principle of objectiveness and neutrality, oppose double standards, and maintain the credibility of the international refugee protection system.
Mankind has only one Earth. Each nation coexists in one world. No country can stand alone to address the refugee issue. If you want to develop yourself, you should let others develop; if you want to be safe, you must let others feel safe; if you want to live a good life, you must let others live a good life as well. This is precisely the original intention of President Xi Jinping’s initiative of “Building a Community of Shared Future for mankind”. We are willing to work together with all countries in the world to effectively address the challenge of refugee issue, support UNHCR to improve global refugee governance, and make greater contributions to the common well-being of mankind!
Note: It is based on Ambassador Yao Jing’s speech at the International Refugees Summit, Islamabad, 17. Feb 2020
