Talks in Beijing point way ahead for Afghans

Top diplomats highlighted the fight against terrorism as a top task for Afghanistan after an international conference in Beijing agreed dozens of concrete measures on Friday to lift the war-torn country out of turmoil.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Afghan counterpart, Zarar Ahmad Osmani, confirmed that 64 priority programs were approved by the contracting parties of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan.

Ranging from boosting commerce and investment to disaster control and education, the programs "will help Afghanistan boost its capacity in regard to national governance, independent development, social security and defense affairs", Wang said.