China vows participation in Afghan rebuilding

URUMQI - Premier Wen Jiabao met on Sunday with Mohammad Khalili, second vice-president of Afghanistan, pledging China's continued participation in a peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Wen made the pledge during the pair's meeting at the second China-Euroasia Expo in Urumqi of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in Northwest China.

The premier noted the great significance of the establishment of a China-Afghanistan strategic and cooperative partnership and said the two sides should step up a joint action plan and strengthen cooperation in all fields including politics, the economy, security and culture.

"China will continue to participate in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction, enhance coordination in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and jointly promote regional peace, stability and development," he added.

Khalili said China has always been a reliable friend of Afghanistan and is playing a great role in the country's rebuilding and regional stability.

"Afghanistan is willing to earnestly implement the agreements with China and effectively strengthen the two sides' cooperation. Afghanistan will take concrete measures to safeguard Chinese safety," he vowed.