Afghanistan-China friendship association on the cards

KABUL (Pajhwok): An Afghan-China friendship association will be officially launched next year, the Chinese ambassador in Kabul said.

Liu Jinsong made the announcement at a meeting marking the 40^th anniversary of reform and opening up of the economy at the Chinese embassy in Kabul.

China had embarked on economic reforms to let in international businessmen in 1978. Currently, China is the world’s largest economic power.

The meeting was attended by former deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, Sultan Ahmad Baheen, some members of political parties, university teachers and media representatives.

The Chinese diplomat said Afghanistan and China not only enjoyed a common history but also had shared values. He termed the next two years important for Afghanistan-China ties as his country had learnt a lot about the Afghan culture and history.

Jinsong reiterated that his country was ready any kind of cooperation with the war-divested country. Regarding peace process, he added China always supported Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace.

The trilateral meeting between Afghanistan, China and Pakistan was successful and China would continue its efforts in development of Afghanistan, he remarked.

Hekmat Khalil Karzai, said Afghanistan should use the experience of China as China learnt from other people and countries and improved its country.

He called Afghanistan-China relations strong and said Afghanistan was the first country to support Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of the Chinese president.

sa/mud