A Chinese senior diplomat said on Monday that China will continue to give support to Afghanistan's peace process and economic reconstruction.

 

"China will continue to support Afghanistan's peace process, actively participate in and provide every help it could in Afghanistan's economic reconstruction," State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

 

Tang said China and Afghanistan are "good neighbors, good friends and good partners." China sincerely hopes that lasting peace and stability will be realized in Afghanistan, which is in the common interests of both China and Afghanistan and the world at large.

 

Afghan President Hamid Karzai paid a state visit to China in June 2006, during which Karzai and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao signed a good neighborly treaty for friendship and cooperation. Hu and Karzai met again on Aug. 15 this year on the sidelines of a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

 

Tang said the events marked that China-Afghanistan comprehensive and cooperative partnership has entered a new phase of development.

 

He said that China is also ready to strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan on non-traditional security issues and support Afghanistan to play an active role in regional affairs.

 

Spanta said Afghanistan and China are traditional good neighbors and the two peoples always enjoy intimate friendship, adding Afghanistan appreciated China's help and support for his country's peace and reconstruction process.

 

Spanta said the Afghan government will firmly stick to the one-China policy and support China's reunification cause.

 

Spanta arrived in Beijing Friday for a six-day official visit to China, his first-ever visit to China as foreign minister. During his stay in Beijing, he will also meet with Vice President Zeng Qinghong and hold talks with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2007)