China calls for intl support of Afghan reconstruction

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A Chinese envoy said on Wednesday the reconstruction of Afghanistan should be led by the Afghans, calling for sustained support and assistance from the international community, the Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday. Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the remarks at a meeting of the General Assembly on Afghanistan. "To achieve peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, we should give full play to the ownership and leading role of the Afghan people," he said. "China supports the Afghan government in continuing to step up its own capacity building." The envoy called on the international community to help Afghanistan upgrade its sustainable development capacity and focus on supporting Afghanistan in building up its military and policy capacity, so as to undertake the responsibility of security and to attain as soon as possible the goal of an Afghanistan run by the Afghans. Furthermore, Wang stressed, "Comprehensive promotion of the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan requires the sustained support and assistance of the international community."

He urged the parties concerned to honor in real earnest their assistance commitment to Afghanistan and support the country in implementing its national development strategy, and respect the priority development areas as defined by the Afghan government. Afghan President Hamid Karzai backed Thursday a proposed security pact with the US that will see up to 15,000 foreign troops stay in the war-torn country, but said it would not be signed until after next year's election, AFP reported. An assembly of tribal chieftains, community elders and politicians began four days of debate on the bilateral security agreement, which will shape Washington's future military presence in Afghanistan.

It has been touted as vital to the country's future after 2014, when the bulk of NATO's 75,000 troops will pull out. A draft text released by Kabul late Wednesday appeared to show Karzai had bowed to a US demand that American troops would not be tried in local courts if they are accused of crimes - an issue that became a major hurdle in the negotiations.