Xi calls for steady transition of Afghan situation, dialogues with Afghanistan

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Friday called for efforts to promote steady transition of Afghan situation as soon as possible, engage Afghanistan in dialogues, and help the Afghan people tide over difficulties.

Xi made the remarks in Beijing while attending a joint summit of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states on the Afghanistan issue via video link.

Member states of SCO and CSTO should join hands to safeguard peace and stability, which are "more precious than gold," said Xi.

These countries are all in the vicinity of Afghanistan, and are within a community for a shared future and shared security, Xi said, adding that they should work together to play their role in critical moments.

In a three-point proposal, Xi urged respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, supporting the implementation of the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle, and letting the Afghan people independently decide the future of their own country.