On the verge of the third Doha meeting, Zhao Xing, China's ambassador to Afghanistan, announced that he had met with Markus Potzel, UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Xing stated that the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation with Afghanistan. On Sunday, the ambassador wrote on the social media platform X: "Great pleasure to meet with DSRSG for Afghanistan Markus Potzel and exchange views on strengthening China and the United Nations' cooperation in Afghanistan and the third meeting of Special Envoys and Special Representatives on Afghanistan."

The Chinese ambassador had previously met and discussed the third Doha meeting with Tomas Niklasson, the European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson confirmed to the media that their representatives will participate in the third Doha meeting.

The third Doha meeting, hosted by the United Nations, is expected to take place in Qatar on June 30 and July 1. Special representatives from regional and international players are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting.

China is one of the few countries that has established close relations with the Taliban following their takeover of power in Afghanistan, signing multiple agreements with the group in the country's mining sector.