Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Thursday that the current situation in Afghanistan is characterized by concerns amid stability as well as turmoil, and is in a critical period of domestic and foreign policy adjustment and transformation, which calls for more attention and input from the international community, especially neighboring countries.

"All parties should demonstrate the spirit of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutual assistance, push forward the implementation of the outcomes of previous foreign ministers' meetings, and speak with one voice on supporting Afghanistan's reconstruction and development and promoting regional security and stability," said Qin.

Qin was speaking during the fourth Meeting of Foreign Ministers among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Chaired by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, senior diplomats from China, Turkmenistan, Russia, Iran, Tajikistan and Pakistan attended the meeting. 

Qin said the longstanding Afghan issue is the result of both "old diseases that have not been cured" and "new ones," and that Afghanistan's neighboring countries should play a leading role in helping Afghanistan overcome difficulties and challenges and achieve stable development.

He put forward a four-point proposal.

The first is to crack down on the terrorist forces in Afghanistan, remove the breeding ground for terrorism at its source, and resolutely prevent Afghanistan from becoming a sanctuary, breeding ground and source of spreading terrorism again.

"At the same time, we need to deepen regional cooperation on counterterrorism, drug control and refugees, strengthen border control, and jointly help Afghanistan enhance its counterterrorism capabilities to effectively curb cross-border terrorist flows and destabilization," he noted.

Second, the U.S. should fulfill its responsibilities. The U.S. is the initiator of the Afghan problem and has yet to reflect on the serious harm it has caused to the Afghan people. The U.S. should immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return Afghanistan's overseas funds.

Third, he called on the Afghan Taliban to build inclusive governance. On the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and national self-esteem of Afghanistan, the neighbors should guide the Afghan Taliban to follow the trend of the times, learn from the mature practices of other Muslim countries, and show more inclusiveness and progressiveness in the establishment and specific governance of political power.

The fourth is to carry out practical cooperation related to Afghanistan.

Qin said that China will continue to provide support within its capacity for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and is willing to work with neighboring countries to adhere to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, be kind to neighbors and act as their partners, deepen friendship, mutual trust and integration of interests with neighboring countries, join hands to properly solve the Afghan issue, and be committed to the security and common development of the region.

The participating parties conducted in-depth discussions on the Afghan issue, and agreed that the meeting of neighboring foreign ministers was held at the right time. Countries in the region, which share a common destiny, should strengthen coordination and cooperation, jointly implement the Tunxi Initiative and promote regional connectivity.

The neighboring parties will speed up the implementation of the Tunxi Initiative, support Afghanistan in leveraging its geographical advantage as the "heart of Asia," integrate itself into regional connectivity and economic integration, and enhance its capacity for independent and sustainable development.

They noted that it's necessary to maintain communication with the Afghan interim government, guide it to fulfill its internal and external commitments and build an inclusive and moderate government, protect women's rights, restore the economy, and improve people's livelihood. They called on Afghan Taliban to pay attention to and respond to the major concerns of neighboring countries, and effectively combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

They also expressed opposition to external forces undermining the security and stability of Afghanistan and the region, the evasion of responsibility by the country which bears the primary responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan, and its closing the door to contact and dialogue with the Afghan side. 

The Samarkand declaration of the fourth foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan was issued after the meeting.

(With input from Xinhua)