(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-21 07:17

A senior Chinese diplomat yesterday said "China will continue to support Afghanistan's peace process and actively participate in and provide every help it can for the country's economic reconstruction".

Reiterating what President Hu Jiantao told his Afghan counterpart Ahmed Karzai on Wednesday, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said China wanted Afghanistan to be a good neighbor, good friend and good partner forever.

Tang told visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta that China sincerely hopes that lasting peace and stability are restored in Afghanistan. This is the common interest of China and Afghanistan and the world at large.

Karzai paid a state visit to China in June 2006, during which he and Hu signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation. Hu and Karzai met again on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Tang said China and Afghanistan have entered a new era of comprehensive and cooperative partnership for development. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan on non-traditional security issues, too, and help it play an active role in regional affairs.

Spanta said Afghanistan and China have traditionally been good neighbors and the peoples of the two countries have always enjoyed a friendly relationship.

Afghanistan appreciates China's help and support for the country's peace and reconstruction process, he said.

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/21/2007 page12)