China willing to play constructive role in Afghan reconstruction: PM

ASTANA, Dec. 15 -- China is willing to play a constructive role in Afghanistan's reconstruction, national reconciliation and people's livelihood improvement, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here on Monday.

Meeting with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdulla on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) prime ministers' meeting, Li said China attaches great importance to the development of its relations with Afghanistan, supporting it to push forward a reconciliation process dominated and owned by the Afghan people.

In order to boost bilateral cooperation in all fields, China is ready to send a working group to Afghanistan at an early date to discuss with the Afghan side the development plan of national infrastructure, the Chinese premier said.

China is also willing to work together with Afghanistan to run well next year the celebrating activities for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, said Li.

For his part, Abdulla said Afghanistan appreciates China's consistent contribution to the peace and reconciliation process in his country.

Afghanistan stands ready to consolidate bilateral ties, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields, and promote regional peace, stability and security, he added.

Li wrapped up his Kazakhstan trip late Monday after meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, holding the second regular meeting between the China-Kazakhstan heads of government with his Kazakh counterpart Karim Masimov, and attending the SCO's 13th prime ministers' meeting.

Kazakhstan is the first leg of Li's three-nation Eurasian tour, which will also take him to Serbia and Thailand.