China will continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan to help with reconstruction, said Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong on Tuesday.

Zeng met Afghan Vice-President Nimartullah Shaharani in Beijing, and they signed an agreement after their talks, in which China agreed to provide US$15 million to Afghanistan.

China and Afghanistan also agreed on terms for the reconstruction of the Parwan irrigation project and China offered US$1 million in cash for the use of the Afghan government.

China would continue to explore new areas for mutually beneficial cooperation, Zeng said, and would provide concrete support for Afghanistan's economic development.

China had always respected Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and made long-term efforts for a peaceful solution to conflict, Zeng said.

China appreciated the progress made by the Afghan transitional government towards advancing the peace process, maintaining social stability and promoting national reconciliation, he said.

China was pleased to see that Afghanistan was now on the path of peace and development.

As friendly neighbors, China and Afghanistan were linked via the Silk Road in ancient times, Zeng said.

Even though the two countries were different, Zeng said, both had always adhered to the five principles of peaceful coexistence, respected and supported the other, and treated the other equally.

Zeng thanked Afghanistan for its support on China's stance on such issues as Taiwan and East Turkistan. He said China would continue to value Afghanistan's support in the future.

Shaharani agreed with Zeng's views on bilateral relations.

He said Afghanistan and China had maintained close exchanges and friendly cooperation for many years.

Afghanistan was a sincere and friendly neighbor to China and Shaharani said the Afghan people thanked China for its assistance when Afghanistan suffered from war.

He said Afghanistan was rebuilding the public hospital in Kabul and the Parwan Irrigation Project and he thanked China for pledging to offer US$150 million to Afghanistan last year.

Shaharani reiterated that Afghanistan supported China to crack down on "East Turkistan" terrorists.

He said the government of Afghanistan believed that China would win the battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The resumption of the China-Afghanistan Friendly Association was agreed and both parties agreed to establish inter-college relations between Peking University and Kabul University.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2003)