Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday, September 1, that China is ready to strengthen diplomatic efforts to help resolve conflicts in Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Middle East, while calling for greater multilateral cooperation on global security and governance.

Speaking at the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Xi said China was prepared to increase communication and coordination with all parties involved in regional conflicts.

“On Ukraine, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and other international and regional hotspot issues, China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties, continue tackling both the symptoms and root causes of these issues, and promote political settlement,” Xi said.

He did not provide details on what role Beijing could take in resolving the conflicts or announce any new peace initiative.

Xi calls for stronger SCO role

Much of Xi’s address focused on strengthening the SCO, which marks its 25th anniversary this year.

He said the organization should take greater responsibility amid rising global tensions and what he described as an increasingly persistent “shadow of war.”

“The shadow of war continues to haunt the world. At such a crossroads with humanity’s future at stake, the SCO should step forward to shoulder its historical responsibility and steer the course for the future,” Xi said.

Xi called on SCO members to prioritize economic development, strengthen cooperation against traditional and emerging security threats, and promote dialogue over confrontation.

He also urged greater cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital technology, energy, green industries and transport infrastructure.

China, he said, will establish an international AI application cooperation centre with SCO countries and undertake 100 technological cooperation projects with member states over the next three years.

On security, Xi called for closer coordination against terrorism, separatism, extremism, organized crime, drug trafficking and telecommunications fraud. He also backed stronger multilateral cooperation on nuclear security.

Xi said countries should be treated equally regardless of their size and that regional issues should be addressed through dialogue and consultation.

“We should always advocate that all countries, regardless of their size, are equal, and that regional affairs should be discussed by all countries to bridge differences and build consensus,” he said.

The SCO includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran and several Central Asian countries, and has increasingly served as a platform for cooperation outside Western-led international institutions.

Islamic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid says Afghanistan’s relations with regional, neighboring and influential countries have improved over the past year.

Speaking at the fifth session of the “Government in the Media Mirror” program in Kabul, Mujahid said the Islamic Emirate had made progress during the past Hijri year in expanding political, trade, economic, transit and consular relations with other countries.

Mujahid said Afghanistan needs diplomatic and economic relations with the United States, arguing that such ties should have been established long ago.

He stressed that Kabul’s foreign policy is not limited to Washington and said the Islamic Emirate seeks relations with all countries that do not currently have formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan.

Mujahid also highlighted the Islamic Emirate’s counter-narcotics efforts, saying more than 46,000 operations were carried out during the past Hijri year, resulting in the seizure of more than 2,159 tons of narcotics.

He added that more than 21,500 hectares of drug crops were destroyed, along with 533 drug-production facilities, during the same period.

More than four decades of conflict have left Afghans facing profound physical, psychological, social and economic consequences, with many victims still without access to justice, compensation or formal recognition of the harm they suffered, according to a new UN report.

Afghanistan endured more than 40 years of armed conflict, ending in late 2021 – a war that resulted in widespread deaths, displacement and destruction.

Between 2009 and 2021, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented more than 40,000 civilian deaths and more than 77,000 injuries as fighting continued between government and coalition forces, the Islamic Emirate and other armed groups.

The latest report focuses on the period leading up to the Islamic Emirate’s takeover in 2021 and is based on interviews with nearly 200 victims of armed conflict and their relatives.

Lasting physical and psychological impact

The report found that 95 percent of those interviewed had experienced emotional or psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, memory loss, flashbacks and other trauma-related symptoms.

Nearly 60 percent had also suffered physical injuries, many of which continued to affect them for months, years or even decades.

Some victims continue to live with chronic pain and disabilities but face financial barriers and limited access to healthcare.

For others, conflict-related injuries prevented them from continuing their education or employment, creating long-term economic difficulties for them and their families. In some cases, relatives were also forced to leave work or education to provide care.

Women widowed by the conflict face particular economic insecurity, with restrictions imposed by Afghanistan’s authorities limiting their access to employment.

Victims struggle to obtain justice

The report also found that many victims have been unable to obtain compensation or other forms of redress.

More than half of those interviewed, or 55 percent, had never attempted to seek compensation or justice. Many said they believed their concerns would not be taken seriously or feared retaliation.

Among those who had sought redress, 64 percent said their efforts were unsuccessful. They cited bureaucratic obstacles, a lack of response, perceived discrimination and limited transparency when dealing with authorities or institutions.

When asked about their priorities, 81 percent of victims identified financial compensation as a key need, while 48 percent called for access to justice and 47 percent sought guarantees for their personal security.

“The interviews we conducted highlight the depth and breadth of collective trauma that continues within Afghan society,” said Georgette Gagnon, a UNAMA official.

She said addressing victims’ needs requires acknowledgement of the harm they have suffered and a genuine commitment to placing their voices and rights at the centre of efforts to address the legacy of conflict.