China to resume visa issuance to Afghans, exempt imports from tax

China will resume issuing visas to Afghans from August 1 and allow 98 percent of Afghan imports to enter tax free, it was reported on Friday.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the measures when he met Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Uzbekistan on Thursday, Reuters reported citing a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

Wang also told Muttaqi that China supports extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan, the statement said.

He also reiterated a call for the West to stop imposing sanctions on Afghanistan.

Afghan foreign ministry said that Wang also expressed Beijing’s readiness to help Afghan farmers find alternate crops to opium.

Muttaqi meanwhile thanked China for facilitating Ariana Afghan Airlines flights to Urumqi city, saying it would help increase Afghanistan exports.