Kabul (BNA) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in separate phone conversations with Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and National Security Advisor, Hamdullah Mohib, reiterated his country’s support for in independent and prosperous Afghanistan, saying that the China-Afghanistan strategic cooperative partnership has maintained a momentum of development, the Belt and Road cooperation has made continuous progress, and traditional friendship between the two countries has been enhanced in the joint fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
In a telephone conversation with FM Atmar, Chinse counterpart said: “China appreciates Afghanistan’s firm support for China to safeguard its core interests, and will as always speak up for the independence, sovereignty and dignity of Afghanistan. China is willing to work with Afghanistan to take the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good-neighborly Relations between the two countries as an opportunity to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation as well as practical cooperation in various fields,” he said, as quoted in a statement released by Chinses foreign ministry.
Wang Yi went on saying that China will continue to provide necessary support for Afghanistan and other South Asian countries in their fight against the pandemic and is willing to deepen counterterrorism and security cooperation with Afghanistan and help Afghanistan strengthen its counter-terrorism capacities.
Wang Yi said that China will continue to support the Afghan government in playing a leading role in the country’s peace and reconciliation process and call on all parties to support and implement relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions to promote a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan, to avoid in particular a resurgence of terrorist forces. “The international community and regional countries should uphold justice and fairness and help the Afghan people maintain and consolidate the fruits of peace and reconstruction in the country.”
Wang Yi said: “China supports all parties in Afghanistan to continue to push forward negotiations among the Afghan people themselves and establish a broad and inclusive political framework for the future based on the principles of political settlement, putting peace first and advancing step by step. In this process, all parties should maintain patience and goodwill, strive to stop violence and cease fire, and create a favorable environment for peace talks.”
He said China hopes that Afghanistan’s future leadership will pursue a moderate Muslim policy, promote a foreign policy of peace, maintain friendship with neighboring countries, and firmly combat all forms of terrorism. “China will continue to play a constructive role in advancing the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile FM Atmar said that Afghanistan is firmly committed to strengthening its relations with China and hoped to conduct strategic dialogue and communication with China on deepening bilateral pragmatic and counter-terrorism cooperation as well as advancing regional cooperation.
The Afghan side thanked China for its strong support for the country’s fight against the pandemic as well as for its humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan, and hopes to work with
China to implement the outcomes of the video conference of foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on COVID-19.
“The Afghan side highly appreciates China’s continuous positive role in supporting the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and is willing to cooperate closely with China in bilateral and multilateral coordination to safeguard peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region,” according to the statement.
In telephone conversation with NSA Mohib, Wang Yi said, China and Afghanistan are traditional friendly neighbors, and China adheres to the principle of non-interference in others’ internal affairs in its relations with Afghanistan. “China is always ready to treat Afghanistan as an equal on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, support Afghanistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, and support the Afghan domestic peace and reconciliation process. China is ready to continue to work with Afghanistan to support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests.”
NSA Mohib said the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan could go through a difficult period, adding that Afghanistan appreciates China’s firm support for the peace process and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in this regard both bilaterally and within the framework of the UN Security Council.
“Afghanistan adheres to the one-China policy and firmly supports China in safeguarding its own sovereignty and territorial integrity. Afghanistan resolutely fights all forms of terrorism, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and is ready to further deepen counter-terrorism and security cooperation with China,” he said, as quoted in the statement.
