The Embassy of the People's Republic of China to Afghanistan Wednesday resumed its functioning after nine years of closing, and a senior Chinese official said the resumption opens a new page in the relations between the two countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the reopening of the embassy shows that China firmly supports the Afghan interim government, is fully confident of the peace and stability in Afghanistan, and will "actively and comprehensively" participate the country's reconstruction.
The Chinese Embassy will be a bridge linking the people of two countries closely and pushing forward the bilateral relations forward, Wang added.
Afghan Foreign Minister Abdulah Abudulah, also addressing the ceremony, said that he shared the view with Wang that a new page was turned in the relations between Afghanistan and China.
Abdulah expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for the political support and financial assistance.
Vice Chairman and Minister for Woman Affairs Sima Samar, Communication Minister Abdul Rahim and other senior officials of the interim administration also attended the ceremony.
The Afghan Embassy in China has been working even during the Taliban regime.
The Chinese Embassy was closed in February 1993 after a rocket hit on the roof of the embassy's main building and some soldiers occupied a building in the compound.
(CCTV.com February 7, 2002)
