A Chinese senior diplomat said on Monday that China will
continue to give support to Afghanistan's peace process and
economic reconstruction.
"China will continue to support Afghanistan's peace process,
actively participate in and provide every help it could in
Afghanistan's economic reconstruction," State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan told visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar
Spanta.
Tang said China and Afghanistan are "good neighbors, good
friends and good partners." China sincerely hopes that lasting
peace and stability will be realized in Afghanistan, which is in
the common interests of both China and Afghanistan and the world at
large.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai paid a state visit to China in
June 2006, during which Karzai and his Chinese counterpart Hu
Jintao signed a good neighborly treaty for friendship and
cooperation. Hu and Karzai met again on Aug. 15 this year on the
sidelines of a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization.
Tang said the events marked that China-Afghanistan comprehensive
and cooperative partnership has entered a new phase of
development.
He said that China is also ready to strengthen cooperation with
Afghanistan on non-traditional security issues and support
Afghanistan to play an active role in regional affairs.
Spanta said Afghanistan and China are traditional good neighbors
and the two peoples always enjoy intimate friendship, adding
Afghanistan appreciated China's help and support for his country's
peace and reconstruction process.
Spanta said the Afghan government will firmly stick to the
one-China policy and support China's reunification cause.
Spanta arrived in Beijing Friday for a six-day official visit to
China, his first-ever visit to China as foreign minister. During
his stay in Beijing, he will also meet with Vice President Zeng
Qinghong and hold talks with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2007)
