-- China and Afghanistan issued a joint statement here Tuesday. The following is the full text of the document.
Joint Statement Between The People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
At the invitation of President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China, Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, paid a state visit to the People's Republic of China from 18 to 21 June 2006.
President Hu Jintao held official talks with President Karzai. Mr. Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Mr. Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met with President Karzai respectively. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchange of views and reached broad agreement on expanding and deepening China-Afghanistan relationship of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, on international and regional issues of mutual interest.
During his visit, President Karzai gave two speeches to representatives of the Chinese academic and intellectual communities at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations and
Beijing University. He met with business leaders of the two countries to brief them on trade and investment opportunities in Afghanistan and had numerous interviews with the Chinese media.
The leaders of the two countries spoke highly of the growth of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1955 and expressed satisfaction with the rapid resumption and fast growth of bilateral relations after the formation of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan. Both sides held that enhancing China-Afghanistan good-neighborly relationship and mutually beneficial cooperation serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, and contributes to peace, stability and development of the region and the world at large. The two sides agreed to establish China-Afghanistan Comprehensive and Cooperative Partnership in order to consolidate their traditional friendship and broaden cooperation in all fields.
The two sides reaffirmed the guiding role of the Treaty of Friendship and Non-Aggression Between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Afghanistan signed in 1960 in deepening the bilateral relationship and agreed to sign, on that basis, the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The two sides agreed to abide by the principles of the Treaty and continue to enrich the partnership of all-round cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples and in the interest of peace, stability and development in the region.
The Chinese side spoke highly of the achievements made by the Afghan Government and people in the peace process and economic reconstruction over the past four years since the beginning of the Bonn Process. The Chinese side expressed the hope and belief that with the concerted efforts of the Afghan Government and people, Afghanistan will realize enduring peace and prosperity in the nearest future. The Chinese side reiterated that it will continue to support and take an active part in Afghanistan's economic reconstruction. China will provide Afghanistan with another 80 million RMB gratis this year. On behalf of the Afghan Government and people, President Karzai extended sincere thanks to the Chinese Government and people for their long-time and selfless help to Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction.
The two sides held that trade and economic relations are an important part of China-Afghanistan good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation. To strengthen their trade and economic ties, the two sides decided to sign the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, establish the China-Afghanistan Joint Economic and Trade Committee. Both parties agree to intensify cooperation in infrastructural areas such as natural resources development, power generation and road construction. To help increase Afghanistan's export to China, the Chinese side announced that it would grant zero-tariff treatment to 278 items of Afghan exports to China as of 1 July 2006. The two sides will continue to explore new channels and ways to expand and deepen trade and economic cooperation.
The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in agriculture, culture, education, transportation, energy and investment on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. To support Afghanistan's national reconstruction, the Chinese side will train 200 Afghan professionals in the coming two years and will offer 30 government scholarships to Afghanistan annually starting from 2007.
The two sides emphasized that strengthening cooperation in national defense, security and police affairs is an important part of their bilateral relationship. They will actively enhance cooperation in pragmatic terms in the aforementioned fields.
The Afghan side reaffirmed that there is only one China in the world that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The Afghan side expressed support to China's efforts in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity and its opposition to any attempt of the Taiwan authorities to create "two Chinas", "one China, one Taiwan" or "Taiwan independence", including "de jure Taiwan independence". The Chinese side reiterated that it respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, supports its efforts to safeguard its independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and internal security, and opposes any attempt that will jeopardize Afghanistan's stability.
Both sides agreed that terrorism constitutes an international menace, as it poses a grave threat to world peace and security. China and Afghanistan are both victims of terrorism and they both firmly oppose terrorism of any form. The Chinese side supported Afghanistan's efforts in combating terrorism and safeguarding national stability and is ready to work with the Afghan side to fight terrorism, separatism, extremism, organized crime as will as illegal immigration, drug trafficking and illegal arms trade. The Afghan side reaffirmed its strong support to the Chinese side in combating the three forces.
The Chinese side appreciated the efforts of the Afghan side in promoting regional cooperation and welcomed Afghanistan's relationship with the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization within the context of "Contact Group Protocol". The Chinese side expressed readiness to enter into cooperation in pragmatic terms with the Afghan side within the framework of regional cooperation. The Afghan side welcomed China becoming an observer of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and supported China in carrying out mutually beneficial cooperation with SAARC.
During the visit, the two sides signed: Treaty of Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Combating Transnational Crime, Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Exchange Letter for China Granting Zero Tariff Treatment to Certain Goods Originated in Afghanistan, Air Service Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Protocol on Institutionalizing Consultations between Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Memorandum of Understanding between the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Information, Culture, Tourism and Youths of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on Cooperation in the Maintenance and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Memorandum of Agreement between the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Memorandum of Agreement between the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
President Karzai invited President Hu Jintao to pay a state visit to Afghanistan at a time convenient to him. President Hu expressed his thanks for the invitation.
