On October 28, 2014, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan at the Great Hall of the People. Xi Jinping stressed that China values developing China-Afghanistan Strategic Cooperative Partnership and supports Afghanistan to achieve stable transition and peaceful reconstruction.
Xi Jinping congratulated Ashraf Ghani on taking office as the Afghan President, and welcomed him to choose China as the first country for his official visit shortly after taking office and to attend the opening ceremony of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan in Beijing. Xi Jinping pointed out that Afghanistan is now undergoing the triple-transition in politics, security and economy, and China supports Afghanistan in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the peaceful reconciliation process featuring "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned", and hopes to see a united, stable, developing and amicable Afghanistan, which is in line with the fundamental interests of the Afghan people as well as the common aspiration of regional countries and the international community.
Xi Jinping emphasized that since the establishment of the new Afghan government, China-Afghanistan relations have embraced new development opportunities. I would like to, together with you, chart the course for the development of bilateral relations in the new era. Both sides should keep high-level exchanges, enhance exchanges between governments, legislative bodies and political parties, and strengthen communication on major issues. China will intensify its support for the peaceful reconstruction in Afghanistan, helping Afghanistan formulate national plans for economic and social development, train various talents, and develop agricultural, hydropower and infrastructure construction, and promoting projects such as the Mes Aynak copper mine and the Amu Darya basin for substantive progress so as to boost economic development and improve people's livelihood in the local regions. I hope that Afghanistan will continuously take effective measures to ensure safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in the country. Both sides should enhance cooperation on law enforcement security and join efforts to combat the "three evil forces" and drug crime. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Afghanistan diplomatic relationship as well as the Year for China-Afghanistan Friendly Cooperation, and we should expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and facilitate mutual understanding and friendship.
Xi Jinping stressed that China will soon host the 4th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, and this will be the first international conference concerning the Afghan issue after the establishment of the new Afghan government. We would like to cooperate closely with the Afghan side to push the meeting for positive results and strive for support from regional countries and the international community to Afghanistan. China backs up Afghanistan integrating into regional cooperation, and welcomes Afghanistan to actively participate in building the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Ashraf Ghani said that the Afghan people are eager to achieve peace, stability and development at an early date, and thank China for its support for Afghanistan's peaceful process and economic reconstruction, especially thank President Xi Jinping for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony not long ago, showing the support to the new Afghan government. Afghanistan views China as a reliable strategic partner, admires China's long-term stability and development, and believes that China is able to help Afghanistan speed up development. Afghanistan is willing to develop Afghanistan-China long-term strategic cooperative partnership on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, thanks China for holding the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan in Beijing, and praises China's constructive role in the Afghan issue and welcomes China continuously to do so. Afghanistan stands ready to work with all parties concerned to dedicate to achieving Afghanistan's peaceful process and regional security and stability. Building the Silk Road Economic Belt is of important significance to promoting Afghanistan-China cooperation as well as regional connectivity, in which Afghanistan is willing to actively participate. The Afghan side stands ready to enhance bilateral cooperation in oil, gas, mineral products, infrastructure construction, people's livelihood and other fields, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and will do its utmost to ensure safety of the Chinese institutions and personnel. Afghanistan firmly supports China in fighting against terrorist forces, does not allow any forces to use its territory for anti-China activities and is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with China. The Afghan people cherish Afghanistan-China traditional friendship, and hope to, taking the 60th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relationship and the Year for China-Afghanistan Friendly Cooperation next year as an opportunity, enhance non-governmental friendly exchanges.
Following the talks, the two heads of state together witnessed the signing of documents such as the agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the two governments. Both sides also issued the joint declaration on deepening China-Afghanistan strategic cooperative partnership.
Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Ashraf Ghani at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Chen Changzhi, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Qinmin and others attended the welcome ceremony.