China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya called on the international
community on Sunday to continue its all-dimensional assistance to
Afghanistan while respecting the will of the Afghan government and
its people.
Speaking at the UN high-level meeting on Afghanistan at the UN
Headquarters in New York, Wang said the meeting demonstrates the
resolve of the international community in continuing its support
for the government and people of Afghanistan.
"It is our firm belief that Afghanistan may forge ahead in pain,
but never in loneliness," he stressed.
Thanks to the help of the United Nations and the international
community, Afghanistan is moving forward in national reconstruction
and development. But on the other hand, Afghanistan is still faced
with many austere challenges, he said.
The international community should continue to provide
assistance to Afghanistan in the fields of security, economic
development and social reconstruction and counter-narcotics, Wang
said.
"The international community should honor its commitments and
continue to support the Afghan government and people," he said.
China supports the United Nations and the UNAMA, or the UN
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, "in playing a core leadership
role in the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan, and calls on
the international community to continue its all-dimensional
assistance to Afghanistan while respecting the will of the Afghan
government and people," he said.
As a friendly neighbor, China feels deeply the sufferings of
Afghanistan and sincerely hopes that the country will achieve
national prosperity and social harmony and deliver happy life to
its people at an early date, he said.
"To this end, China has played an active part in Afghanistan's
post-war reconstruction," Wang said, adding that Chinese President
Hu Jintao recently announced that the Chinese government would
provide an additional grant of 80 million RMB yuan (about US$10.6
million) to Afghanistan this year.
(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2007)