Chinese President Xi Jinping, reaffirming commitment to backing an Afghan-owned and led peace process, has vowed to encourage Pakistan to provide sincere support to the Afghan peace process, a statement from the Presidential Palace said on Thursday.
On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, President Ashraf Ghani held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday evening, the statement said.
Ghani said peaceful settlement to the conflict in his country was in the interest of the region, calling as vital China’s role in developing a regional consensus on Afghan peace and after peace agreement with the Taliban.
He termed regional support against terrorism after the achievement of peace in Afghanistan as important and hailed continued Beijing support to Afghanistan.
Ghani added China and Afghanistan were getting closer as a result of regional connectivity.
The Chinese president, while referring to friendly relationship with Afghanistan, said besides assistance in uplift projects to Afghanistan they increased the import of saffron, pine nuts and other products from Afghanistan.
He hailed Afghanistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism and said China fully supported Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process.
Xi termed Pakistan cooperation in Afghan peace process as vital and pledged to encourage Islamabad for greater cooperation in this regard.
Separately, President Ashraf Ghani held a meeting with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and discussed with him trade, transit and regional connectivity projects between the two countries.
Both sides stressed over accelerating efforts to implement agreements inked for bilateral trade, transit and connectivity between the two countries.
Ghani hailed cooperation from Uzbekistan in peace and reconciliation process and asked all regional and international players to coordinate and orgnaise their efforts for Afghan peace process.
President Ashraf Ghani also met his Kyrgyzstan counterpart Kassym Jomart Tokayev and discussed issues of bilateral interest.
Both leaders agreed to increase cooperation and expand bilateral trade.
Referring to the sacrifices of Afghan security forces, Ghani said the people of Afghanistan rendered huge sacrifices in war against terrorism as it was positioned on the front line.
