'Beijing Declaration' on Afghanistan reconstruction efforts

The 4th Foreign Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan has ended in Beijing. Co-chaired by China and Afghanistan, delegates from about 30 nations and regional organizations attended the conference. The conference ended with the Beijing Declaration.

It is China's maiden show as a host of a major international meeting on Afghanistan. The 4th Foreign Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan opens Friday in the Chinese capital city. Co-chaired by foreign ministers of China and Afghanistan, the meeting announces Beijing declaration.

China has pledged 1.5 billion yuan in aid to Afghanistan over the next three years, and will help train 3,000 professionals in various fields in the next five years.

Meanwhile, Li called on Afghans to put aside their differences and work towards reconciliation. He said the international community should also provide assistance to Afghanistan on the basis of mutual respect.

Meanwhile, President GHANI stressed that further deepening Afghanistan-China strategic cooperative partnership serves as the core principle of their diplomatic policy.

Ghani said Peace is Kabul's priority, and the country invites the political opposition, particularly the Taliban, to join intra-Afghan dialogue.

Beside the multilateral talks on the meeting, the bilateral talk between China and Afghanistan is where the political spectators are closely watching. And biz talk is where the conversation lands in Beijing.China is looking to further tap into Afghan resources, while the southern Asian country is banking on Chinese investment to revive its post-war economy.

The bright side for Afghanistan is that its president is already highly familiar with Beijing from his days as a World Bank official working in the country.

Some politics watchers speculate that if 2014 marks an end-point for western policy in Afghanistan, it could be a starting point for China to get involved with the war-torn country.