Chinese FM meets Afghan interior minister

KABUL - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Wednesday with Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China has always pursued a friendly policy toward Afghanistan, stood for equality among all countries, and adhered to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.

He stressed that China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its development path chosen by the Afghan people, its unique national conditions and religious traditions, adding that in Afghanistan's pursuit of development and revitalization, China is a reliable partner and friend of Afghanistan.

China supports Afghanistan's policy of prioritizing economic development and is willing to contribute to its development and revitalization, Wang said.

He said that China will continue to oppose unreasonable pressure on Afghanistan and freeze of its assets, and supports an early resumption of bilateral patrols in the Wakhan Corridor to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas, urging Afghanistan to take firm actions to crack down on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and other international terror groups so as to safeguard China-Afghanistan cooperation.

Haqqani expressed appreciation for China's long-standing support for Afghanistan's development and the people's livelihood, as well as its support for Afghanistan's integration into the international community.

He said that Afghanistan is ready to carry forward a friendship with China, and further expand cooperation in various fields, stressing that Afghanistan attaches great importance to China's security concerns, and Afghanistan will never allow anyone to use its territory to undermine China's security.