By Yew Lun Tian

BEIJING, (Reuters) – The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Wednesday’s World Bank and International Monetary Fund to continue financing assistance to Afghanistan in cash-strapped reconstruction.

Aug. Taliban Takeover saw central bank assets in the millions frozen. The international financial institutions also had to suspend funds access. However, humanitarian assistance has been continued.

The banks are out of cash, the civil service is not being paid, and food prices are skyrocketing. According to the IMF, Afghanistan’s economy will contract to as much as 30% this year. This could fuel a refugee crisis.

Wang spoke via videolink to Afghan foreign ministers.

He reiterated his call for Washington and all other Western countries not to impose unilateral sanctions on Afghanistan. The World Health Organization should also provide additional vaccines and supplies for Afghanistan to fight COVID-19.

China announced that $30 million of humanitarian assistance will be sent to Afghanistan.

China calls for international cooperation to address the Taliban.

Wang stated that “my overall impression was that the Taliban are eager to have dialog and cooperation with outsiders, and that this is something they care about.”