The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should help push the situation in Afghanistan into a direction that serves the common interests of Afghanistan and other countries in the region, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday. 

He made the remarks when attending the foreign ministers' meeting of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 

Noting that Afghanistan, affected by the hasty withdrawal of troops by the United States and NATO, is once again confronted with severe challenges, Wang made several proposals for promoting the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. 

As the culprit that created the Afghan issue, the U.S. cannot shirk its responsibility for the current situation, and as the U.S. recently expressed its readiness to help Afghanistan maintain stability and conduct a peaceful reconstruction, the member states should urge the U.S. to honor its commitments, Wang said. 

The SCO should give full play to the function and role of the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure and make every effort to prevent the infiltration and proliferation of the "three evil forces" -- terrorism, extremism and separatism -- into the surrounding areas of Afghanistan, he said. 

Calling for joint promotion of the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, Wang said SCO member states should urge all parties in Afghanistan to clarify the roadmap and timetable for the process. 

The SCO should take an active part in meetings of various multilateral mechanisms related to Afghanistan, he said, adding that the SCO should make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms in economy, trade, culture and other fields to support Afghanistan in enhancing its capacity for independent development and achieving sustainable development. 

Wang said China will continue to follow the principle of "Afghan-owned and Afghan-led," fully respecting the sovereignty of Afghanistan to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Afghan issue.

Other foreign ministers called for firmly pushing forward the political settlement process on the Afghan issue and supported the SCO in playing an important role in peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. 

A joint statement of the meeting was adopted.