China is ready to deepen "friendly and cooperative" relations with Afghanistan, a government spokeswoman said Monday, after the Taliban seized control of the country. "China respects the right of the Afghan people to independently determine their own destiny and is willing to continue to develop friendly and cooperative neighbour relations with Afghanistan," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters. +COMPLETES VIDI9L83EJ_EN+ IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES