Yang: Dialogue key on Afghanistan

Beijing is committed to promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, and calls on the international community to support the war-torn country in enhancing capacity to fight extremism and terrorism, a top Chinese diplomat said in a phone call with the US secretary of state on Wednesday.

Two days after US President Donald Trump unveiled his new strategy for Afghanistan, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson provided an overview of Trump's south Asia policy to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, focusing specifically on the Afghanistan and Pakistan policy elements, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Wednesday afternoon.

In a prime-time national speech on Monday night, Trump recommitted the United States to the 16-year war in Afghanistan, declaring US troops must "fight to win" and calling a rapid exit of the US troops from Afghanistan "unacceptable".

In outlining the pillars of his strategy, Trump said that the US wasn't concerned about nation-building but focused on "killing terrorists".

Yang told Tillerson that political dialogue is the only solution to the Afghanistan issue, according to a statement from China's Foreign Ministry.

The international community needs to support Afghanistan in achieving a "broad and inclusive" political reconciliation, support its people in pursuing a development path that fits with the country's own national conditions, and back the Afghan government in increasing its capability to fight extremism and terrorism, Yang said.

Beijing stands ready to keep in communication and coordination with Washington on the Afghanistan issue and to make joint efforts to realize peace and stability in the country and the region, Yang said, according to the statement.

"We need to give attention to the important role Pakistan plays in the Afghanistan issue and respect Pakistan's sovereignty and security concerns," Yang said.

Trump alleged in his Monday night speech that "Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror."

The remarks irked many Pakistanis, who said the US president ignored Pakistan's sacrifices in the war on terror.

"Our contributions and sacrifices as an ally have not been acknowledged as they deserved to have been acknowledged," Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday.

Yang said he hoped that China and the US will expand cooperation and properly settle differences to maintain momentum on relations.

In accordance with the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Trump, the two countries should strengthen exchanges at high and various levels and make good preparations for Trump's visit to China within this year, Yang said.

Tillerson said that the US side is willing to work with the Chinese side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote communication and cooperation, according to the Foreign Ministry statement.

Trump is looking forward to his important visit to China within the year, said Tillerson, expressing hope for concerted efforts to make a success of the visit, according to the statement.

huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com