Afghan President Karzai lauds China's contribution to peace process of Afghanistan

By: Muhammad Arif.
Beijing, Sept 30: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called China a very “trusted neighbour and partner”, acknowledging its assistance and support for stability in Afghanistan and in the rest of the region.  Karzai further said “China has contributed significantly and in a quiet way to the peace process of Afghanistan.”

Karzai made these remarks while giving interview to China’s State TV, CCTV on September 29, 2013.

Karzai returned from a four-day trip to China. “This visit of mine proved with great certainty that China and Afghanistan have developed a strong relationship, based on commonality of interest”, he said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says commonality of interests and Chinese leaders’ wisdom have contributed to the strength of the Beijing-Kabul relationship.

After meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, he told the state-run news agency Xinhua: “This is also very importantly (based) on the wisdom of the Chinese leaders.”

Afghanistan would remain China’s “trusted neighbour and partner”, he promised, saying his government had been striving to attract foreign businesses, from China in particular, to participate in the country’s reconstruction.

Karzai said his administration would continue to take all necessary measures to provide Chinese investors with an enabling environment. “We are also aware it is necessary to provide security for Chinese businesses.”

Video: http://english.cntv.cn/program/dialogue/20130930/100636.shtml