China will continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan to help
with reconstruction, said Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong on
Tuesday.
Zeng met Afghan Vice-President Nimartullah Shaharani in Beijing,
and they signed an agreement after their talks, in which China
agreed to provide US$15 million to Afghanistan.
China and Afghanistan also agreed on terms for the reconstruction
of the Parwan irrigation project and China offered US$1 million in
cash for the use of the Afghan government.
China would continue to explore new areas for mutually beneficial
cooperation, Zeng said, and would provide concrete support for
Afghanistan's economic development.
China had always respected Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity and made long-term efforts for a peaceful
solution to conflict, Zeng said.
China appreciated the progress made by the Afghan transitional
government towards advancing the peace process, maintaining social
stability and promoting national reconciliation, he said.
China was pleased to see that Afghanistan was now on the path of
peace and development.
As
friendly neighbors, China and Afghanistan were linked via the Silk
Road in ancient times, Zeng said.
Even though the two countries were different, Zeng said, both had
always adhered to the five principles of peaceful coexistence,
respected and supported the other, and treated the other
equally.
Zeng thanked Afghanistan for its support on China's stance on such
issues as Taiwan and East Turkistan. He said China would continue
to value Afghanistan's support in the future.
Shaharani agreed with Zeng's views on bilateral relations.
He
said Afghanistan and China had maintained close exchanges and
friendly cooperation for many years.
Afghanistan was a sincere and friendly neighbor to China and
Shaharani said the Afghan people thanked China for its assistance
when Afghanistan suffered from war.
He
said Afghanistan was rebuilding the public hospital in Kabul and
the Parwan Irrigation Project and he thanked China for pledging to
offer US$150 million to Afghanistan last year.
Shaharani reiterated that Afghanistan supported China to crack down
on "East Turkistan" terrorists.
He
said the government of Afghanistan believed that China would win
the battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The resumption of the China-Afghanistan Friendly Association was
agreed and both parties agreed to establish inter-college relations
between Peking University and Kabul University.
(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2003)