Visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing reaffirmed China's support for Afghanistan's economic recovery when delivering a speech at the opening of the Third Afghanistan Development Forum (ADF) in Kabul Monday.  

"With peace dawning and development burgeoning, Afghanistan today is at a crucial juncture, moving from chaos to order. While the government and people of Afghanistan are sparing no efforts to rebuild the economy, the international community shares the common responsibility and obligation to support and help Afghanistan with its reconstruction," Li said.

The three-day ADF will discuss how to accelerate economic development in Afghanistan with international donors. The theme of the forum this year is "accelerating economic development." 

"As the trend of our times is to pursue development through cooperation for a win-win result of mutual benefit, we are actually helping ourselves when we help Afghanistan in its rejuvenation and development," Li stressed.

The Chinese minister also pointed out four key factors for Afghanistan's reconstruction: a stable domestic environment, a full-fledged state structure, sound cooperation with its surrounding countries, and continuous international assistance.

Li reaffirmed that China hopes to see long-term stability in Afghanistan. "We support the Afghan government under the leadership of President Karzai in its efforts to maintain stability and stand ready to strengthen bilateral cooperation in policing, the training of police and anti-drug officers and counter-terrorism."

"The Chinese government is delivering on its US$150-million pledges to Afghanistan," said Li. "The dredging of the Parwan irrigation project will be completed by the end of this month. The construction of a new Republic Hospital building in Kabul will break ground very soon."

The Chinese government will encourage competitive and well-established Chinese enterprises to come to Afghanistan for investment and trade, he added.

After the opening of ADF, Afghan First Vice President Ahmad Zia Masoud and Second Vice President Abdul Kalim Khalili met with Li respectively.

Both leaders appreciated the generous assistance the Chinese government offered to the post-Taliban Afghanistan, and hoped to further promote the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Li expressed the willingness of the Chinese government to help Afghanistan rebuild its shattered economy through multiple forms of cooperation based on the mutual interest.

"We hope to maintain the relationship of good fiend, good neighbor and good partner in the future," Li noted.

After the talks with Afghan leaders during his two-day visit, Li wrapped up his visit to Afghanistan and left for Pakistan on Monday afternoon.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2005)