Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the United States and the Taliban to resume peace talks as soon as possible. He made the remarks during a meeting with former Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Tuesday.

Wang said the situation in Afghanistan has come to a crucial point where the top priority is to achieve progress in both U.S.-Taliban talks and intra-Afghan dialogue. He said the negotiations should start as soon as possible as the garrisons from the U.S. and other countries withdraw the region in an orderly and complete manner, thereby truly leaving the future of Afghanistan in the hands of the Afghan people.

China has always respected the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, Wang said.

Respecting the will of the Afghan people, China will continue to play a constructive role in peaceful reconciliation of the country in line with the needs of all parties in Afghanistan, he added.

Karzai, currently in China to attend the 2019 Imperial Springs International Forum in Guangzhou, said the Afghan people cherish their traditional friendship with China and look forward to the continuous strengthening of bilateral ties in all aspects.

He noted China has been "selflessly assisting" the process of peaceful reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, playing an important role in maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity.

For a long time, China has maintained close communication with Afghanistan and actively promoted the Afghan peace and reconciliation process, which has been welcomed by all parties, he said. Afghanistan appreciates China's efforts toward the intra-Afghan dialogue and is willing to enhance coordination with China to initiate dialogue as soon as possible, he added.