China offers fresh US$11M aid to Afghanistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-30 20:19

KABUL - China and Afghanistan on Tuesday signed two agreements, under which Chinese government would provide a total of 80 million yuan (about US$11 million) to the war-battered central Asian state.

The agreements were signed here by Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yang Houlan and Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dafar Spanta.

Under the first agreement, China would provide 50 million Yuan (about US$7 million) to Afghanistan for consultative projects between the two countries, while under the second agreement China would provide Kabul with wheat worth 30 million Yuan (about US$4 million).

Spanta thanked China for backing the rebuilding process of his war-torn nation and called on Chinese businessmen and companies to further invest in Afghanistan.

The minister also reiterated Afghanistan's support to a united China. "This is the corner stone of foreign policy of Afghanistan and I once again noted that Afghanistan backs a united China which is the People's Republic of China and this policy would continue," he said.

Yang Houlan in his speech described Afghanistan as a best friend and good neighboring state, adding Beijing would continue to back Afghanistan in its reconstruction.