国内英语新闻:China backs Afghan presidential runoff

BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the second round of the Afghan presidential election will be steady and smooth, and lay a solid foundation for the country's peace, stability and development, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday.

China appreciates the Afghan electoral institutions's preparations for the election runoff to be held on June 14, Hua said at a routine press briefing.

She said that China attaches great importance to developing a strategic partnership with Afghanistan, adding the country will work with other sides in supporting Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction and national reconciliation.

Former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai will compete in the presidential runoff.