Chinese FM meets with Afghan counterpart on ties

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that as a neighbor and partner, China congratulates Afghanistan on new achievements it has made in national development.

China pursues a policy of friendship toward all the Afghan people and has always been at the forefront among major countries and neighboring countries in developing relations with Afghanistan, Wang said.

He noted that China will continue to support the Afghan government in governing steadily, focusing on development, resolutely fighting terrorism, promoting good-neighborliness and friendship, and achieving lasting stability.

It is hoped that Afghanistan will continue to make every effort to crack down on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, so as to remove obstacles and inject impetus into the further development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

He added that China is ready to work together with Afghanistan to carry forward friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and strengthen cooperation in the economy, trade, agriculture, poverty reduction, water conservancy, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.

Muttaqi expressed gratitude to China for its valuable support to Afghanistan in opposing external interference, and praised China’s important contribution to safeguarding regional peace and development.

Friendship with China is the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s foreign policy, Muttaqi said, noting that Afghanistan attaches great importance to China’s security concerns and will never allow anyone or any force to use Afghan territory to engage in activities harmful to China.

Afghanistan is ready to strengthen security and counter-terrorism cooperation with China to jointly safeguard lasting peace and stability in the region, Muttaqi added.(Xinhua)