Premier Zhu Meets Afghan Interim Government Chairman

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 24, 2002

Premier Zhu Meets Afghan Interim Government Chairman

China is deeply concerned about the Afghan situation and the peace, stability, unity and development of Afghanistan, and it is ready to provide possible aid for Afghanistan's reconstruction. Zhu made the remark while meeting with Chairman of the Afghan Interim Government Hamid Karzai, who arrived in Beijing earlier Wednesday.

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China cherishes friendship with Afghan

Zhu said that, as friendly neighbors, the Chinese and Afghan people have had close contacts through the Silk Road since ancient times, and the two countries forged diplomatic ties 47 years ago.

China cherishes its traditional friendship with Afghanistan, and is willing to continue to maintain and develop their good-neighborly relations, Zhu said.

"We're pleased to see that the Afghan Interim Government has gone into operation immediately after its establishment, and progress has been made in all fields," Zhu said.

The premier said the fate of Afghanistan should be ultimately decided by the Afghan people, and its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be fully respected.

Meanwhile, the United Nations' role is indispensable for the political solution of the Afghanistan issue, and China supports the U.N.'s efforts to this end, Zhu added.

Zhu said that China sincerely hopes that Afghanistan will start its economic recovery and reconstruction at an early date, and the success of the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan shows the support of the international community to the Interim Government.

As a friendly neighbor, China will stand by the Afghan people, take an active part in Afghanistan's reconstruction process and provide it with support and aid to the best of its ability, Zhu said.

Afghanistan's reconstruction work concerns the country's economy and its people's livelihood, with the emphasis on infrastructure construction, Zhu said, adding since China has advantages in this respect, the Chinese government will encourage competent companies to actively participate in Afghanistan's reconstruction.

Afghan interim government confident about future

Karzai thanked the Chinese government for inviting him to visit the country. He said Afghanistan and China cherish a long history of friendly exchanges, and the Chinese people have always been true friends of the Afghan people.

Ever since the two nations forged diplomatic ties, the Chinese government and people have provided much help to Afghanistan, and done a lot for the Afghan people, he said.

At present, Afghanistan is faced with the urgent task of restoring peace and reconstructing the country, he said.

Karzai said the Afghan Interim Government is fully confident about Afghanistan's future, for it has not only the support of the international community, but also the enthusiasm of its people, who support the interim government and are looking forward to an early start of reconstruction. He said he expects Afghanistan to become a respected member of the international community.

The Afghan Interim Government and people are grateful to the international community, the Chinese government and people in particular, for their care and aid in helping restore peace in Afghanistan and in its reconstruction, he said.

Karzai said Afghanistan attaches importance to developing relations with all neighboring countries, including Pakistan, and it is ready to work with them to safeguard regional peace.

Zhu and Karzai on anti-terrorism moves

Zhu and Karzai also exchanged views on the international community's counter-terrorism moves.

Reiterating that China opposes terrorism in any form, Zhu said that the terrorist actions by a handful of "East Turkistan" terrorists trained outside China have disturbed the peace and stability of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Chinese government attaches great importance to this.

Karzai said the Afghan Interim Government fully understands China's concern, and will no longer tolerate the existence of any terrorist forces in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Interim Government will fully cooperate with China, and supports the Chinese government's crackdown on the "East Turkistan" terrorist activities, he said.

After the meeting, Zhu and Karzai attended the signing ceremonyfor the exchange of notes on the Chinese government's provision tothe Afghan Interim Government of one million U.S. dollars and 30-million-yuan-worth (about 3.6 million U.S. dollars) of emergency assistance in the form of goods.

Premier Zhu Reiterates Anti-Terrorism with Karzai

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji reiterated Wednesday that China opposes terrorism in any form.

Zhu made the remarks in a discussion on the international community's anti-terrorism moves with visiting Afghan Interim Government Chairman Hamid Karzai, who arrived here earlier Wednesday on a two-day visit as a guest of the Chinese government.

Zhu pointed out that the terrorist actions by a small number of"East Turkistan" terrorists who were trained outside China have disturbed the peace and stability of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Chinese government attaches great importance to this. Full Text

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