January 20th this year marks the 70th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan. 70 years ago, the older generation of leaders from both countries, with foresight and firm beliefs, crossed the treacherous Pamir Plateau, built a bridge of friendly cooperation between China and Arab countries, and opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. Over the past 70 years, China and Arab countries have stood together through thick and thin, supported each other, and maintained a lasting friendship. Afghanistan was one of the earliest countries to recognize the People's Republic of China. The Afghan side has always adhered to the One China principle and supported China's firm determination and efforts to safeguard national unity. China has always been honest with Afghanistan and has been able to provide assistance to Afghanistan's economic and social development to the best of its ability. In the 1960s and 1970s, China assisted in the construction of water conservancy projects in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, and in the construction of Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar Province. Nowadays, water conservancy projects still irrigate 10000 acres of fertile land, benefiting over 30000 households along the route; Milwais Hospital still provides medical services to millions of people and is affectionately referred to as the 'Chinese Hospital' by locals. China has assisted in the construction of landmark projects such as the comprehensive teaching building and auditorium of Kabul University and the National Vocational and Technical College, helping Afghanistan solve its economic and livelihood difficulties. Currently, the friendly relations between China and Arab countries have entered a new stage of development. China has always been a friendly neighbor that supports the peaceful and stable development of Afghanistan. China adheres to the "three respects" and "three never's", which means respecting Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, respecting the independent choices made by the Afghan people, and respecting Afghanistan's religious beliefs and ethnic customs; Never interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs, never seek personal gain in Afghanistan, and never seek so-called spheres of influence. China adheres to the concept of friendship, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, and supports the independent development of Afghanistan through practical actions, setting an example of good neighborly friendship and injecting confidence and momentum into bilateral cooperation. China has always been an important partner in supporting Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction and economic development. The major cooperation projects between the two sides have been smoothly promoted, and China's direct investment in Afghanistan has grown rapidly from January to September 2024, ranking first among Asian countries in terms of growth rate. The bilateral trade volume is expected to exceed 1.5 billion US dollars for the whole year of 2024. China provides various types of assistance to Afghanistan through bilateral and multilateral channels to help Afghanistan cope with challenges. China has provided over 2000 training opportunities for Afghanistan and awarded "Ambassador Scholarships" to local university students who excel in both academics and conduct, supporting Afghanistan in enhancing its capacity for independent and sustainable development. The direct flight route from Kabul to Urumqi has become an important channel for personnel exchanges between China and Afghanistan. More and more Afghans come to China for business and study. Afghan specialty products such as saffron, pine nuts, and lapis lazuli have entered the Chinese market and are deeply loved by Chinese consumers. The practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields has enormous potential and broad prospects. China has always been a just force that upholds justice for Afghanistan. China firmly speaks up for Afghanistan in multilateral occasions such as the United Nations, calling on the international community to increase humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan, strengthen dialogue and contact with the Afghan interim government, lift unilateral sanctions on Afghanistan, urge relevant countries to return overseas assets that have been misappropriated by Afghan people, etc., demonstrating its sincere goodwill and responsibility as a responsible major country to uphold international fairness and justice and assist in Afghanistan's reconstruction and development. At present, China is in the critical period of comprehensively promoting the construction of a powerful country and the rejuvenation of the nation with Chinese path to modernization. Afghanistan is committed to pursuing national stability and development. China is willing to work hand in hand with Afghanistan to seek security and stability, share development opportunities, pass on the friendship between China and Afghanistan, and contribute to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind and a better world. (New Society)
Edit:Yi Yi Responsible editor:Li Nian
Source:people.cn
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