Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his Afghan
counterpart, Abdullah Abdullah, on Wednesday discussed bilateral
ties, the Afghan situation and exchanged views on international and
regional issues of common concern.
Tang said the formation of the Afghan Interim Government has
provided the two countries with an opportunity to develop
friendship. He voiced China's support to the interim government and
its readiness to push forward good-neighborly relations with
Afghanistan on the basis of the five principles of peaceful
coexistence.
As
a neighbor, Tang said, China has been closely watching the
development of the situation in Afghanistan. China sincerely hopes
that leaders of all parties in Afghanistan could seize today's
great opportunity and work for national reconciliation and social
stability with the help of the international community, he
said.
The Chinese foreign minister asked the international community to
translate their promises into action in terms of assistance to
Afghanistan. He said China pays attention not only to the peace
process in Afghanistan, but also to its reconstruction. China has
honored its assistance commitment of one million US dollars and
goods worth 30 million RMB yuan (US$3.6 million).
Tang said China has agreed to send teams to study the refurbishment
of previous assistance projects in Kabul, Parwan and Kandahar once
security situation permits. It has also agreed to fulfill as soon
as possible its pledges to provide Afghanistan with police uniforms
and stationery and office supplies. Tang said China would seriously
study other needs of Afghanistan as well.
He
said Chinese businesses are ready for economic and technological
cooperation with Afghanistan in various ways and on various
levels.
At
the request of the Afghan side, China has also agreed to resume
consular and visa services in Afghanistan as soon as possible to
facilitate exchanges between the two countries.
During the talks, Tang also explained his country's Asia policy. He
stressed that China's priority is to expand friendship with its
Asian neighbors, safeguard security and stability and promote
development and cooperation in the region. Peace and cooperation
are also the goal of China's South Asia policy, he said.
Abdullah said he was looking forward to Tang's visit. He thanked
China for its assistance, describing China as Afghanistan' s only
neighbor that has not hurt the country. China's contributions to
peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan have shown that China is a
great country in the world, he said.
He
said Afghanistan would work with China to carry out cooperation
projects and explore new areas of cooperation. With the help of
China, Afghanistan will definitely overcome the difficulties and
embark on the road to peace, stability and development, Abdullah
stated.
Abdullah said that Afghanistan's focus at home is peace and
reconstruction and the priority of its foreign policy is to promote
friendship with its neighbors and fight terrorism together with the
international community.
Tang appreciated Afghanistan's firm stance on the fight against
terrorism and expressed the hope that the two countries can enhance
cooperation in this regard.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on cooperation in
drug control. Tang said China is ready to provide agricultural
technologies to help Afghan poppy growers to opt for other
crops.
After the talks, Tang and Abdullah witnessed the signing of three
documents, including an agreement on economic and technological
cooperation between the two countries.
Later in the afternoon, Tang visited Jamhuriat Hospital, for which
China has provided medical equipment.
Tang, who arrived in Kabul on Wednesday morning, had met with
interim leader Hamid Karzai earlier in the day.
(China
Daily May 16, 2002)