Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met in Beijing Wednesday with Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Tang praised the China-Afghanistan relations and said developing the traditional friendship with Afghanistan is a strong demonstration of China's diplomatic policy of strengthening good ties and reciprocal cooperation with neighboring countries.

China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and its development road chosen by its people and supports its political process of realizing national reconciliation and its post-war economic reconstruction, Tang said, adding that China is ready to make its due efforts in the last two spheres.

Abdullah thanked the Chinese government and people for the consistent support and help for Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction process and congratulated China's economic achievements and social progress.

He also reiterated the Afghan government's staunch one-China policy. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2004)