China's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Sun Yuxi said here on Sunday that China supports ongoing political and reconciliation process in Afghanistan as it would create a better security environment. Talking to media persons, the envoy told that he met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and two leading presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah this week.
Expressing hope that election process in Afghanistan would wind up smoothly, he said that during meetings, the Afghan leadership talked about forming a national unity government.
Sun Yuxi, a former ambassador to both Afghanistan and India, was appointed special envoy by China two weeks ago.
The envoy said: "China looks forward to progress in Afghan political and reconciliation process. So far, we have not directly got involved with Afghan groups including Taliban and we place our hope on the new government."
He said peace process must be Afghan's own as China follows principle of non-interference in the affairs of other countries.
He emphasised that the success of reconciliation process would lead to better economic situation in Afghanistan. Reconciliation efforts are supported by the United Nations and the international community, he said, adding, "We have to be patient."
The envoy said China would hold a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the region as part of the Istanbul process. The meeting was postponed till the completion of the Afghan presidential elections and formation of the new government, he mentioned.
He said he will visit United States, Russia, India and Iran to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. Sun Yuxi said Pakistan is a close friend of China and both countries are working together on various international issues particularly Afghanistan.
He said during his visit to Pakistan, he met the Foreign Secretary and discussed how to promote peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
"We need all parties in Afghanistan to engage in peace process so that hostility and loss of innocent lives stop."
He said economic development, job opportunities and raising standard of living would help create peace and security in Afghanistan, adding, "We must get involved the private sector in Afghanistan."
To a question, he said United States has already decided to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.
Some forces of the US would remain at their bases for maintaining security, the envoy said and added: "China thinks that the future security environment depends on Afghan security forces."
Chinese forces would not get involved in security of Afghanistan, he added.
"However, if Afghanistan will need help, China will try its best to support them."
China would continue to help Afghanistan as it already did by providing equipment, communication and logistical support to its army and police, he added.
He said China was concentrating on economic development as many times military solutions did not solve problems.
To another query, he said if groups in Afghanistan, including Taliban, reached an agreement on national reconciliation then nobody will make trouble.
Sun Yuxi said Afghan leadership has a blueprint for long-term economic development including building countrywide railway network, motorways and power generation projects.
"Afghanistan is rich in mineral resources including copper reserves," he said and added: "We are looking for better security environment as we are ready to help in commercial projects."
The population of Afghanistan has grown many times and it now needed new residential projects, shopping centres, schools and hospitals and China would help in infrastructure development, he added.
Replying to yet another question, he said over the years, Pakistan has made great contribution for peace in the region and sacrificed its personnel of army and police.