Hanafi urges China to help equip Afghan hospitals

KABUL (Pajhwok): Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Salam Hanafi has called on China to cooperate with Afghanistan in electricity production and equipping hospitals and health centres with modern machinery.

In a statement, the Presidential Palace said Maulvi Hanafi met Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Zhao Xing at his office here on Sunday.

During the meeting, the Chinese ambassador noted it had been 70 years since the establishment of strong relations between Afghanistan and China.

He also acknowledged the Chinese embassy had issued a significant number of visas to Afghan traders and citizens over the past year, demonstrating the expansion of bilateral relations.

Ambassador Zhao expressed China’s readiness to assist in building homes for the Afghan refugees expelled by neighbouring countries.

The diplomat also expressed China’s willingness to set up cold storage facilities for agricultural products, support the health sector, conduct surveys and help extract Afghanistan's natural resources.

He assured China's cooperation with Afghanistan would continue.

For his part, Hanafi thanked Beijing for its assistance, stressing as a good neighbour, China had maintained long-standing trade, economic and political links with Afghanistan.

Throughout this period, the deputy premier said, no major issues had arisen between the two countries.

Hanafi also urged China to cooperate in electricity production and the provision of modern machinery for equipping hospitals and healthcare centres.

He reiterated the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan sought good relations with all countries, particularly its neighbours, and encouraged efforts to boost cooperation with them.

sa/mud