Afghanistan's Taliban administration has sent the acting minister of industry and commerce to China to attend the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.

The ministry said in a social media post on Monday that the acting minister, Nooruddin Azizi, will participate in the gathering. He also plans to meet on the sidelines with Chinese businesspeople and investors.

China has recently fostered engagement with the Taliban. Last month, it became the first country to appoint an ambassador to Kabul since the Islamist group took power two years ago. Chinese companies are also working in Afghanistan on oil exploration projects.

The Taliban have not been formally recognized by any government. The group's presence at the forum is seen as a bid to build ties with other participant countries and attract their investment.