Foreign and Military Affairs

Afghan president starts China visit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-23 22:51

BEIJING - Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Beijing Tuesday evening, starting a three-day state visit to China.

Chinese President Hu Jintao will hold talks with Karzai Wednesday afternoon. China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet separately with Karzai on Thursday. The president will also deliver a speech at Peking University.

"The two sides will exchange views on strengthening their political relations, deepening mutual trust, and expanding economic and trade cooperation during President Karzai's stay in Beijing. They will also discuss issues of common concern," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Expanding trade and economic cooperation with China is an important agenda of Karzai's visit.

According to the spokesman, the two sides will sign several deals on trade and economic cooperation.

Karzai will also attend a seminar which is aimed to introduce more opportunities to business people of the two countries.

"We believe that the visit would be successful with joint efforts from the two countries, which will also promote the development of China-Afghanistan relations," Qin said.

He added that China highly values its friendship with Afghanistan, and hopes it would be a country enjoys peace, stability, independence, development as well as friendship with neighboring countries.

China, as Afghanistan's neighbor and friend, is willing to take an active part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan as always, and will offer support in its power, Qin said.