China has made marked economic achievements and can play a "significant" role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Abdullah of the Afghan Interim Government said Wednesday evening in Beijing.
At a press conference held at the Afghan embassy, Abdullah said that during the meeting between Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Afghan Interim Government Chairman Hamid Karzai, both sides extended willingness to cooperate in Afghanistan's reconstruction work.
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Abdullah signed two documents on the Chinese government's provision to the Afghan Interim Government of one million U.S. dollars as initiating fund and 30 million yuan-worth (over 3.6 million U.S. dollars) of emergency assistance in the form of goods.
Abdullah said many Chinese products and technological items are urgently needed in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, including in the fields of medical equipment, road construction, high technology, communication equipment and landmine clearance.
"The trade relations between the two can start at any time," he added.
On the anti-terrorism issue, he said that his government will " take every measure to make sure that no terrorist can act inside Afghanistan, live in Afghanistan or use the soil of Afghanistan against other countries."
"Our position is firm and clear," he stressed, adding that his government will "extend full cooperation" with China on the issue.
(People's Daily January 24, 2002)
