China officials hold talks with Taliban team in Beijing

BEIJING: Chinese officials have held talks with a Taliban delegation ahead of the presidential elections in Afghanistan on September 28, days after US President Donald Trump cancelled a meeting with the militant group in the war-torn country.
The Taliban delegation, headed by Mullah Baradar, spoke to China's special envoy to Afghanistan Deng Xijun on Sunday, the spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry, Geng Shuang, said on Monday. Though Geng confirmed the Taliban delegation's visit, he gave few details.
The situation in Afghanistan has changed dramatically after US President Donald Trump called off his meeting with Taliban representatives two weeks ago following a deadly attack by insurgent groups in Kabul that killed an American soldier.
On Trump's move to cancel peace talks, Geng said, "We hope the US and Taliban will maintain the momentum of talks. We support the internal dialogue in Afghanistan and (hope for) national reconciliation at an early date. China is willing to continue to play a constructive role," he said. Asked whether China has asked the Taliban to stop attacks on polling stations, Geng said China has consistently supported Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation.