On August 13, 2021, Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) together with the Stimson Center, hosted a virtual seminar entitled “China, the US, and the Future of Afghanistan.” Chinese panelists included DA Wei, Deputy Director of CISS; ZHOU Bo, CISS Fellow and China Forum Expert; QIAN Feng, Fellow at the National Strategy Institute, Tsinghua University; WANG Xu, Associate Professor at the Center for South Asian Studies, Peking University; and ZHAO Huasheng, China Forum Expert and Professor at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University. The American panelists included Yun Sun, Director of the China Program at the Stimson Center; Sameer Lalwani, Director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center; Ryan Hass, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution; Daniel Markey, Professor at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies; and Tamanna Salikuddin, Director of South Asia programs at the United States Institute of Peace.

The experts assessed the situation in Afghanistan, and compared notes on how the Taliban has changed over the past two decades and on the opportunities and challenges for China-US cooperation in Afghanistan.

The discussants warned that regional security still faces risks and challenges as the situation in Afghanistan is changing rapidly and involves significant uncertainties. Amidst greater competition between China and the US, it is important to guard against the possibility that  the issue of Afghanistan turned from an area of cooperation to one of competition. Experts suggested that the two countries strengthen their policy coordination on Afghanistan to manage potential risks, promote practical cooperation, and maintain regional stability.