On January 25th, Deputy Director Sun Guoxiang of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry briefed about the visit of Afghan Interim Government Chairman Karzai and answered questions raised by journalists at the Informational Press Center. First of all he introduced Chairman Karzai?s visit by saying that Karzai has paid a brief but important visit. This is the first time that the Afghan leader of the highest level paid a visit to China since the late Chinese Vice Premier Chen Yi visited Afghanistan in 1965.

During the visit, President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji met with Karzai separately. Karzai showed great interest in the ancient culture of China. He also visited the Great Wall. The bilateral talks during this visit mainly focused on three aspects: Sino- Afghan relations, post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan, and anti- terrorism campaign.

With regard to the Sino- Afghan relations, both sides displayed their satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations, agreeing that China and Afghanistan have maintained traditional friendly relations that can be traced back to the era of Silk Road. In the 47 years after the establishment of diplomatic relationship, the relations between the two states have developed smoothly on the whole. Although for a time it was interrupted by the shifts of the domestic situation in Afghanistan, the friendly relations between the two peoples have never stopped. For all the time the Chinese government has shown respect to the independence of sovereignty and the integrity of territory of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan people?s own decision on about how to develop their country. China is ready to do more things helpful to the Afghan people including extending assistance to Afghanistan. Karzai expressed his thanks for the understanding, support and assistance China has offered Afghanistan over the years.

As to the post- war reconstruction of Afghanistan, Karzai introduced about the Tokyo Conference. Satisfied with the achievements of the meeting, he expressed his appreciation to the international community for the offer of $ 4.5 billion assistance. Yesterday President Jiang Zemin said in the meeting with Karzai that China will offer another assistance worth of $ 150 million.

Regarding the anti- terrorism issue, Chairman Karzai said that the Afghan people have suffered so much from terrorism that the Afghan government will never allow any kind of terrorism in Afghanistan, especially when some terrorist forces may use Afghan territory to endanger neighbors of Afghanistan. Chinese side emphasized that the Chinese government is against terrorism of any form, and this is our firm and clear- cut stance. The Chinese government has stood with the international community to fight against terrorism since the ?9.11?terrorist attack. The Chinese side has also emphasized that the fight against ?East Turkistan?terrorists constitutes part of the international anti- terrorism campaign. We believe that the Afghan Interim Government will give full understanding and support to China on this issue. Chairman Karzai said that they have been alert to the trend of this force since several years ago. Deputy Director Sun also announced that the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan will be restored officially on February 6th, when the Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi will preside over the restoration ceremony.

After the briefing, Sun answered the questions raised by the journalists.

Q: China promised to offer an assistance of $ 1 million at the Tokyo Conference and an additional assistance worth of $150 million yesterday. Why didn?t you propose the new assistance at the Tokyo Conference?

A: During the Tokyo Conference we have promised two batches of assistances?one is in the form of goods worth of RMB 30 million and the other is a cash assistance of $ 1 million. Both assistances are to be realized through bilateral channels. At present, the cash assistance of $1 million has been transferred to the account of the Afghan Interim Government. Chairman Karzai introduced that the reconstruction of Afghanistan requires capital that is not a small amount of money. So he expected the Chinese government to play a more active role in extending more help to Afghanistan. The Chinese government studied it as an urgent issue immediately and this decision was made only yesterday.

Q: Did the leaders of the two states touch on the issue of permanent stationing of the U.S troops in Afghanistan in their meeting?

A: The two sides didn?t touch on this point.

Q: Did China sign any agreement with the Afghan government to help Afghanistan remove landmines, or send specialists to help with it? In your estimation, how many ?East Turkistan?terrorists have been receiving training at the Taliban base?

A: The leaders didn?t touch on the issue of landmine remove in their meeting. But I think this is an area that can be explored later in the cooperation between the international community and Afghanistan. If in the future related parties propose to cooperate with the Chinese government in this aspect, we will pay a careful thought to it. As to the second question, I have no exact number of ?East Turkistan? terrorists on hand, but the number is of little importance. What is important is that it is true some of them have been trained in the base of Taliban. The activities of these terrorists are great threats to the peace and security of both China and the whole world. So the international community takes the responsibility and the commitment to make concerted efforts to crack on this force.

Q: You have just mentioned that Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi will lead a delegation to Afghanistan. Which leaders will he talk to in Afghanistan? And, how will China participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan?

A: Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi is the highest- ranking Chinese official to visit Afghanistan in the recent years. He will be presiding over the restoration ceremony of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan. During his visit, he will get in touch with the officials in the Afghan government. As to the question of which officials Wang will see, we will follow the arrangement of Afghan side. China holds a fairly active attitude towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan. China has both the technology and the capacity to join in the reconstruction work. With regard to the concrete projects, we will hold further discussion with the Afghan government.

Q: Would you please introduce how long it will take China to meet the promise of the assistance worth of $ 150 million? How many will be offered in cash? How many will be offered in the form of projects and programs?

A: It won?t be completed within one year, that?s for sure, nor does it have no time limit. The related parties in China will discuss with the Afghan side in details. The reconstruction of Afghanistan will cover various aspects, so every form of assistance is possible.

Q: Is there any other reason behind China?s assistance to Afghanistan? Did China expect Chairman Karzai to promise to support China?s fight against ?East Turkistan?terrorists?

A: I want to say with great responsibility that there is no relationship between the two things. As neighboring states, we have always shared quite good relations. The Chinese people have always cherished quite friendly feelings towards the Afghan people. China has never ceased its assistance to Afghanistan, not even during the intrusion of Former Soviet Union and the Civil War of Afghanistan. China has been offering assistance to Afghanistan through the related international organizations or agencies on an annual basis.