Chinese, Afghan presidents agree to enhance cooperation on economy and security
Updated 18:08, 14-Jun-2019
CGTN
[]
01:28

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Thursday on the sidelines of the 19th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

President Xi first sent a congratulation message to the 100th anniversary of the Afghan independence. He said that Afghanistan is China's neighbor and strategic partner, and China wants to enhance cooperation with the Afghan government under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The Chinese president stressed that the cooperation is based on mutual respect and benefits.

China also wants to strengthen bilateral security cooperation, especially in fighting against terrorist groups such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Xi said.

China supports the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" political reconciliation process, the president said, adding that Beijing would continue to support Afghan peace talks.

Ghani thanked China's support for Afghan peace talks and China's role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

The Afghan president said his government will work with China in security and economic development.

The concept of forging a community with shared future and support of economic globalization is the model of a new type of international relations, he said.

Afghanistan is willing to strengthen cooperation under the BRI, he added.