KABUL, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) — China hopes to see Afghanistan complete political and economic transition and achieve political reconciliation and economic revival and is ready to play a constructive role in the process, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday.
To consolidate their bilateral strategic cooperative ties, the two sides should boost the cooperation and exchanges in five fields, Wang said while meeting his Afghan counterpart Zarar Ahmad Osmani, according to a press release obtained by Xinhua on Sunday.
Firstly, the two sides should maintain the momentum of high- level exchanges,work closely together to prepare for the meeting of their leadership within the year and make a success the Fourth Foreign Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan slated for August in China’s Tianjin.
Secondly, the two sides will hold a series of cultural events to enhance educational cooperation and exchanges between their young people on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties, which falls on next year.
Thirdly, China will provide more assistance to Afghanistan in its efforts to develop economy and improve the livelihood of its people. China will help with infrastructure projects, including the construction of school building in Kabul University, offering farm machinery and training classes to Afghan technicians.
Fourthly, the two sides will further broaden trade cooperation for mutual benefits. The Chinese government encourages and supports capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Afghanistan to strengthen cooperation with the Afghanistan side in trade, energy and other fields.
Fifthly, the two sides should strengthen cooperation in security issues and the fight against trans-national crimes and terrorist activities, such as those by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement.
China will continue to provide training and assistance to the Afghan security forces, and hopes that Afghanistan will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese enterprises and personnel in the country.
For his part, Osmani said that Afghanistan will always be a good neighbor and partner of China, and the country is looking forward to strengthening cooperation with China in agriculture, mining and transportation and other fields, and is eager to expand bilateral trade volume.
Afghanistan will further facilitate the operation of Chinese enterprises in the country, and staunchly support China on issues concerning China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added.
He reiterated that Afghanistan will never allow its territory to be used by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement for activities detrimental to China’s security, and pledged continued efforts to deepen its security cooperation with China.
Afghanistan is capable of ensuring the success of its current transitions, and is confident that the fourth foreign ministers’ meeting of the Istanbul Process to be hosted by China would be a success, Osmani said.
