Top Chinese construction companies said they are closely watching the situation in Afghanistan for possible business opportunities.
"There will be a lot of projects when the war comes to an end and Afghanistan starts to reconstruct itself," said an official with the China State Construction Engineering Corp, the country's largest contractor of overseas projects.
"We are closely watching what's going on in the country. We'll see what we can do there after its political situation stabilizes," said Ma, director of the corporation's overseas development department, who declined to be fully named.
China Road and Bridge Group, another leading Chinese construction company, also expressed keen interest in the potential.
Yao Haidong, deputy general manager of the group's overseas development department, said: "We will definitely enter the market when the proper chance presents itself."
Yao said the group is well prepared for going into the market, although it has no concrete plans for doing so.
Yao said he is keeping a close watch on the political situation in Afghanistan.