China welcomes Pakistan, Afghanistan efforts to improve ties

BEIJING: China today welcomed efforts by Pakistan and Afghanistan to improve their ties and working out a road map for resuming peace talks with the Taliban.

China welcomes efforts by neighbours Pakistan and Afghanistan in improving ties, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said here.

Lu's remarks came a day after Pakistan army chief Gen Raheel Sharif visited Kabul and held wide-ranging talks with Afghanistan's top leadership on ways to revive stalled peace talks with the Taliban.

The two neighbours agreed to hold a quadrilateral meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US early next month on a comprehensive road map for "meaningful peace".

"This is conducive to restarting the reconciliation process in Afghanistan and will contribute to regional stability," Lu said, adding that China is open to any proposal that contribute to Afghanistan's peace and reconciliation.

He said that China backs the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" reconciliation process and is willing to continue playing a constructive role and maintaining contact and coordination with all sides.