<p>China has played a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and is welcome to contribute to the rebuilding of the country, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Chinese state media.</p>.<p>Taliban militants seized control over the weekend in an upheaval that sent thousands of civilians and Afghan military allies fleeing for safety. Many fear a return to the austere interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule that ended 20 years ago.</p>.<p>In dealing with the Taliban, an increasingly powerful China may be able to leverage the fact that unlike Russia and the United States, it has not fought in Afghanistan.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/with-taliban-in-power-china-eyes-highly-lucrative-rare-earth-mines-in-afghanistan-1021442.html" target="_blank">With Taliban in power, China eyes highly lucrative rare-earth mines in Afghanistan</a></strong></p>.<p>"China is a big country with a huge economy and capacity - I think they can play a very big role in the rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction of Afghanistan," Shaheen told <em>CGTN</em> television in an interview late on Thursday.</p>.<p>During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's meeting with a Taliban delegation in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin last month, he said he hoped Afghanistan could adopt a moderate Islamist policy.</p>.<p>China has cited religious extremism as a destabilizing force in its western Xinjiang region and has long worried that Taliban-controlled territory would be used to harbour separatist forces.</p>
<p>China has played a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and is welcome to contribute to the rebuilding of the country, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Chinese state media.</p>.<p>Taliban militants seized control over the weekend in an upheaval that sent thousands of civilians and Afghan military allies fleeing for safety. Many fear a return to the austere interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule that ended 20 years ago.</p>.<p>In dealing with the Taliban, an increasingly powerful China may be able to leverage the fact that unlike Russia and the United States, it has not fought in Afghanistan.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/with-taliban-in-power-china-eyes-highly-lucrative-rare-earth-mines-in-afghanistan-1021442.html" target="_blank">With Taliban in power, China eyes highly lucrative rare-earth mines in Afghanistan</a></strong></p>.<p>"China is a big country with a huge economy and capacity - I think they can play a very big role in the rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction of Afghanistan," Shaheen told <em>CGTN</em> television in an interview late on Thursday.</p>.<p>During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's meeting with a Taliban delegation in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin last month, he said he hoped Afghanistan could adopt a moderate Islamist policy.</p>.<p>China has cited religious extremism as a destabilizing force in its western Xinjiang region and has long worried that Taliban-controlled territory would be used to harbour separatist forces.</p>