Afghan official wishes advances in relations with China in new year

Afghanistan and its people hope to further enhance the bilateral ties with neighboring China in the new year, Sultan Ahmad Baheen, director of the Third Political Desk from Afghan Foreign Ministry which is in charge of China- related issues, has said. Baheen made such comments during an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Saturdayas the Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse is approaching. "Already we have strategic partnership with China, and this is the solid foundation, solid base for our relation. I strongly believe the new leader of Afghanistan will continue the same policy as President Hamid Karzai did, because this is the need for Afghanistan, this is the will of Afghans and this is the wish of Afghan people," said Baheen. China is Afghanistan's neighbor and Afghanistan expects from China more benefits, more cooperation in all fields, especially in energy, agriculture and transportation, added Baheen, who had served as Afghan Ambassador to China for nearly four years. "We have tangible achievements, like investment in Amu Darya oil bastion, continuation of Aynak (copper) project and technical assistance to the Afghan government regarding the training of civil servants of Afghanistan," he said. He also called for more Chinese assistance in the education sector of Afghanistan. Regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal to build a Silk Road economic belt, Baheen said the move would bring extraordinary opportunities for regional development and will enhance the ties among countries in the region. "First of all, President Karzai, during his visit to China last year, officially supported the initiatives by President Xi Jinping of the Silk Road economic belt. Secondly, we are part of this world, all the ways to many countries from the west to the east, from the north to the south, all goes through Afghanistan," he said. The Afghan diplomat also called for Chinese investment in transportation, mine and agriculture of Afghanistan. The Afghan official also congratulated the coming Chinese New Year. "I hope the Chinese people, the Chinese government, during this horse year, reach to the Chinese dream in the speed of horse and with the patience of the horse. Wish you success, wish you everything best during horse year of 2014," he said.