China's embassy in Afghanistan will officially reopen Wednesday, and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi will preside over the reopening ceremony, a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman said in Beijing Tuesday.

At a press conference spokesman Kong Quan said he believed that the reopening of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan will further promote the relations between China and its friendly neighbor Afghanistan.

He also expressed hope that leaders of the Afghan interim government and Wang would meet during Wang's visit and have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations.

Wang will travel to Kabul via Pakistan, and is expected to exchange views with Pakistani officials on issues of common concern, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2002)