Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Kabul (BNA) Hamid Karzai, president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan met yesterday evening with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the country’s Shanghai city.
According to presidential press office to BNA, in the meeting, both sides discussed bilateral relations, Afghanistan peace process, joint counter terrorism and extremism and continuation of cooperation in economic, trading and other sectors.
Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping while welcoming President Hamid Karzai said, “Afghanistan has remarkably developed under your leadership in the past one decade.”
“Bilateral relations between China and Afghanistan will be further extended in the future because the foundation of good relations was put during your leadership and will continue with upcoming government of Afghanistan,” Xi Jinping asserted.
The Chinese President told President Karzai, “China and Afghanistan are historic and friend countries and you are China’s historic friend and Chinese people never forget their historic friends.”
In the meeting, the Chinese President expressed sadness over human casualties triggered by landslide in Argo district of Badakhshan, expressed sympathy and condolence over the incident and said besides sending cash assistance to affected people, China had sent a number of experts to Afghanistan to share their experiences with relevant organs related to preventing such incidents in the country.
Xi Jinping praised Afghan people for their wide-ranging participation in the country’s elections and hoped the second round of presidential elections would be also held successfully.
The Chinese President asserted his country wanted a united, developed and stable Afghanistan.
“China is supporting Afghan-led peace process and will continue its long-term assistance and cooperation with Afghanistan in its reconstruction, saying China is ready to train Afghan experts in various sectors,” Xi Jinping added.
He said his government was supporting investment of Chinese investors in Afghanistan and would further encourage them to invest in Afghanistan.
The Chinese President added Istanbul sessions process for Afghanistan would be held and hosted by China in coming August in the country and would absorb support of member countries for Afghanistan.
Afterwards, President Hamid Karzai said, “It is honor for me and Afghanistan people to have friendship with China, adding there’s great friendship between Afghanistan and China and the foundation of such partnership and friendship was put by China.”
President Hamid Karzai added China is a close friend and neighboring country of Afghanistan and provided necessary assistance to Afghanistan in various sectors.
Representing the government and people of Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai praised the government and people of China for their assistance to Afghanistan and said, “I’m sure Afghanistan upcoming government will continue friendship and relations with China and current bilateral cooperation and friendship between the two countries will be further extended.”
Pointing out related to current joint opportunities and threats against China and Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai said, “There are opportunities and threats for Afghanistan and China and the most important threat against the two countries is terrorism and extremism. Therefore, Afghanistan, China and regional countries should jointly fight the phenomena.”
President Karzai further said that Afghanistan and China’s common interest is hidden in jointly fighting terrorism.
