China has committed to purchasing at least $17 billion of U.S. agricultural ​products in 2026, 2027 and 2028, the White House ‌said in a fact sheet released on Sunday.

The commitment was made during meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last ​week, the White House said.

The $17 billion figure does not ​include the soybean purchase commitments China made in October ⁠2025, the White House said.

There has been a marked reduction ​in U.S. agricultural exports to China after last year’s rounds of ​tit-for-tat tariffs sharply curtailed trade, which fell 65.7% year-on-year to $8.4 billion in 2025, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

China has dramatically scaled back its ​reliance on U.S. farm goods since Trump’s first term, sourcing ​roughly 20% of its soybeans from the U.S. in 2024, the year before ‌he ⁠returned to office, down from 41% in 2016.

China will work with U.S. regulators to lift suspensions of U.S. beef facilities and resume imports of poultry from U.S. states determined to be ​free of avian ​influenza, the ⁠White House said.

Confirming earlier statements from the Chinese government, the White House also said on Sunday the ​world’s two largest economies would establish a U.S.-China ​Board of ⁠Trade and the U.S.-China Board of Investment.

The boards will resolve concerns over market access for agricultural products and expand trade “under a ⁠reciprocal ​tariff-reduction framework,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ​said in a statement last week.

Officials at Da Afghanistan Bank (Central Bank) say the Afghanistan Institute of Banking and Finance represents an important step toward professionalizing the country’s banking sector and strengthening financial decision-making.

Hasibullah Noori, spokesperson for the central bank, said broad programs have been launched to expand Islamic banking services across Afghanistan, with several institutions already operating in the sector.

According to Noori, parts of the country’s banking activities have already been aligned with Islamic banking principles, while additional training programs are underway to strengthen the capacity of banking staff and support the further expansion of Islamic banking services.

Mustafa Safi, head of the Afghanistan Institute of Banking and Finance, which operates under the supervision of the central bank, said the institute has introduced extensive human resource training and capacity-building programs aimed at developing Islamic banking services in Afghanistan.

Economic analysts have welcomed the initiative, saying the gradual expansion of Islamic banking could improve transparency in the financial system and help increase public trust in banks.

Officials said more than 1,200 central bank employees have already benefited from the institute’s training programs, while additional courses are planned for students at public and private universities.

The Afghanistan Institute of Banking and Finance officially began operations in 1403 under the supervision of Da Afghanistan Bank.

The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Hibatullah Akundzada has called on religious scholars to strengthen the implementation of Sharia and preserve the history of jihad.

The call was made at a meeting with members and officials of the Ulema councils of Parwan and Kapisa provinces, Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said.

Fitrat said the meeting was attended by the Foreign Minister, a number of religious scholars, and senior officials of the Islamic Emirate.

During the gathering, the leader praised the activities of the Ulema councils in Parwan and Kapisa, saying scholars now have an important opportunity to promote Islamic teachings and strengthen public awareness among the people.

He said scholars are responsible for addressing religious issues in their provinces and guiding society in accordance with Islamic principles.

“Strengthen unity and solidarity among yourselves, because the unity of scholars leads to the unity of the Muslim Ummah,” the leader told participants, according to Fitrat.

He also stressed the importance of Fiqh discussions, saying such gatherings help improve religious research, clarify religious matters, and strengthen cooperation and brotherhood among scholars.

According to Fitrat, the leader said Allah has honored religious scholars with Islamic knowledge, describing them as inheritors of the prophets and trustees of Allah on earth.

He said scholars throughout history have made sacrifices to protect Islam and Sharia through both intellectual efforts and armed struggle, while also contributing to the spread of religion through books, commentaries, and other religious writings.

The leader emphasized that implementing Islamic law and properly explaining it to the public are among the key responsibilities of scholars.

He also said scholars should help explain decrees and laws issued by the Islamic Emirate and raise public understanding of their importance.

In another part of his speech, the leader called on scholars to cooperate with the Directorate for Preservation of Jihadi Works under the Ministry of Information and Culture to preserve the history and legacy of jihad.

He stressed the importance of documenting martyrdom sites, installing plaques on the graves of martyrs, preparing books and publications about their sacrifices, and recording the history of jihad for future generations.

The leader also urged scholars to educate the public about the sacrifices made by Mujahideen, martyrs, disabled veterans, and orphans so that the history of jihad is not forgotten.

According to the statement, participating scholars renewed their allegiance to the leader of the Islamic Emirate at the end of the meeting and pledged continued support for the leadership and the Islamic system.