On January 26, 2010, Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is in Istanbul to attend a regional summit on Afghanistan as the special representative of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Yang conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes of President Hu Jintao. Yang said that in recent years China and Afghanistan have continuously increased political trust, expanded exchanges in all areas and deepened friendship between both peoples and their bilateral ties have been pushed to a new level.

Yang said that under the leadership of President Karzai, the Afghan government and people have made arduous efforts for post-war reconstruction and achieved positive progress, which China highly appreciates. China supports the international community to work closely with the Afghan government and offer positive aid to the country for its reconstruction. China fully respects the will and initiative of the Afghan government and people and supports the UN’s leading role in coordinating international efforts. China will continue to offer assistance within its ability for Afghanistan’s peaceful reconstruction and will encourage competent and reputable businesses to invest in the country and conduct cooperation in the major areas of infrastructure, mining industry and agriculture.

Karzai expressed sincere thanks for the cordial greetings from the Chinese leader. He said China is a good neighbor, good friend and good partner of Afghanistan. The Afghan government is firmly committed to advancing friendly cooperative relations with China and thanks for China’s long-standing sincere help. Afghanistan welcomes China to actively participate in its peaceful reconstruction process and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is ready to provide necessary facilitation and conditions in this regard. Afghanistan actively seeks support of the international community including China and is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in major international and regional issues.