Premier says China to join Afghanistan's infrastructure construction

China is willing to participate in Afghanistan's infrastructure construction, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday.

Li made the remarks while meeting visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Any country that wants to realize national prosperity and improve people's livelihood needs a safe, stable and harmonious neighboring environment, the premier said.

China is vigorously opening up westward, Li said. The country supports Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction process and is willing to take part in building Afghanistan's infrastructure including railway, road, water conservation, and electricity.

China is ready to work with Afghanistan and the international community to promote Afghanistan's economic development and stability, and to maintain regional peace and stability, which is conducive to bilateral ties and cooperation, he said.

Ghani welcomed more Chinese companies to join in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction and vowed to provide security assurance and facility to this end.

On Friday, Li and Ghani will address the Fourth Foreign Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan.

This will send a clear signal that the international community, especially the regional countries, firmly supports Afghanistan's smooth transition and secure development, Li added.

The meeting also attracts foreign ministers or representatives from 14 member countries of the process, 16 other countries, 12 supporting international and regional organizations, and 4 countries and organizations with chairmanship.

Ghani thanked China for hosting the meeting. He said it is a consensus of all parties in Afghanistan as well as a core principle of Afghanistan's foreign policy to further deepen the strategic partnership of cooperation with China.

He pledged that Afghanistan will actively participate in the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt, which is in the interests of regional countries' long-term development.

Afghanistan will expand reciprocal cooperation with China and support South Asian nations to strengthen cooperation with China, Ghani said.

This is the first China visit for Ghani since he took office in September. Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with him. Top legislator Zhang Dejiang also met with him.