China said Thursday it hoped the upcoming presidential run-off in Afghanistan would be smooth and successful.

China hoped the elections in Afghanistan would be smooth and the country would embark on a road of peace, stability and development at an early date, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular news briefing here.

Ma made the remarks responding to a reporter's question on the announcement by the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) of the second round of Afghan presidential election balloting.

Ma said, China has noticed the latest development of the election in Afghanistan. "The election is the internal affair of Afghanistan, and China respects the choice of the Afghan people," Ma said.

The Afghan IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said on Tuesday the presidential election would go for a run-off on Nov. 7.