China will continue to support Afghanistan's reconstruction, and make efforts to expand bilateral cooperation, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday.

Meeting with Afghan Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili, who attended Wednesday's eighth prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states as guest of host country China, Wen said China would continue to encourage qualified and reputable companies to invest in Afghanistan, and to strengthen bilateral practical cooperation in fields such as trade, economy and agriculture.

Wen said the mutually beneficial cooperation would not only serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also be conducive to the regional peace and stability.

Wen said China hoped Afghanistan could realize peace, stability and development soon.

China always respected Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, he said.

Wen also called on the international community to pay more attention to the Afghan people's living standards, and to support Afghanistan's social and economic development.

Khalili said Afghanistan and China had never encountered any problems in the development of bilateral relations.

Khalili said Afghanistan was ready to work with China to deepen the two nations' practical cooperation and to ensure successful implementation of the Afghanistan-China cooperation projects.

Afghanistan welcomed Chinese enterprises to continue to expand investment in its infrastructure and other projects.

The Afghan government would try its best to safeguard the security of Chinese institutions and personnel in Afghanistan, said Khalili.