China hopes Afghanistan will resume peace and stability at an early date, foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Thursday.

Ma made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a question on the discussion about Afghan situation in the just-concluded eighth prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

Afghan Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili attended Wednesday's prime ministers' meeting as guest of host country China.

Ma said the Afghan situation was discussed on various occasions during the meeting.

Afghanistan is an important neighbor of China, Ma said, adding that the SCO member states including China are watching its situation closely and have made their own efforts for its reconstruction.

He said, "We expect an early restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan with the help of the international community."