China welcomes developments in Afghan reconciliation

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday that China welcomes the positive development of the ongoing reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Hua's comment came after the Afghan Taliban on Tuesday set up a liaison office in the Qatari capital of Doha in order to initiate talks with international organizations.

The Taliban will use the Doha office to maintain contact with the United States and the Afghan government in order to work toward achieving peace in Afghanistan, according to local media reports.

"China has always supported a reconciliation process for the country that is run by the Afghans themselves," Hua said, adding that the establishment of the office is a positive development.

China holds that the international community should provide necessary assistance for Afghanistan's reconciliation process on the basis of respecting the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hua said.

She called on the international community to make joint efforts to realize an "Afghanistan run by Afghans" at an early date.