China's top legislator meets Afghan president

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang met with visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Wednesday.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), praised the mutual respect and equal treatment the two countries showed toward each other.

He said China will strengthen support for Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction and bilateral cooperation.

Zhang said the NPC, China's top legislative body, will make joint efforts with the Afghan National Assembly to strengthen experience sharing on lawmaking and national governance to serve the peaceful reconstruction.

Zhang also called on the two countries to expand substantial and comprehensive cooperation and strengthen exchanges at various levels to promote the China-Afghanistan strategic partnership of cooperation to a new high.

Ghani thanked China for its support and assistance to Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction process.

He said Afghanistan is committed to a long-term and strong strategic partnership of cooperation with China. Afghanistan wants to strengthen bilateral parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in such areas as security, trade and culture.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Ghani on Wednesday afternoon, who is paying his first China visit after taking office.