Jiang met Hamid Karzai, chairman of the Afghanistan interim government yesterday before leaving Almaty.
Jiang said that China is ready to develop the traditional friendly and cooperative relationship with Afghanistan on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
Karzai said the Afghan people appreciate the support and assistance that China has rendered them and that Afghanistan welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the country to expand bilateral trade cooperation, now that his interim government has passed a law on foreign investment.
Karzai briefed Jiang on the Afghanistan political situation and the progress in preparations for the Grand Council of Afghanistan, which is set to convene on June 10.
Jiang said China hopes the meeting will come up with an interim government which has a broad base and represents the interests of all parties in Afghanistan on a foundation of full consultation.
(China Daily June 6, 2002)
