国内英语新闻:Afghanistan's new president to visit China next week: Chinese FM

BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's new president, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, will pay a state visit to China from next Tuesday to Friday, his first foreign visit since taking office last month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday.

China has attached great importance to the visit, which is the first high-level visit between China and Afghanistan since the new Afghan government was formed, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

Chinese leaders will have an in-depth exchange of views with Ghani on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, Hua said.

"We hope that the visit will help deepen tangible cooperation between China and Afghanistan in various areas, and show China's support of Afghanistan's steady transition and peaceful reconstruction so as to forge ahead the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation," Hua said.

Ghani was sworn in as new president of Afghanistan on September 29, replacing Hamid Karzai and marking the first-ever peaceful power transition in the history of the war-torn country.

Calling Afghanistan "a traditional good neighbor of China," Hua said China values development of ties with Afghanistan, firmly adopts a friendly policy towards Afghanistan, and supports its reconstruction.

China congratulates Afghanistan on its presidential election and the formation of a national unity government, said Hua, adding that China hopes the new government will lead the Afghan people to peace, stability and development.

China will provide assistance to Afghanistan's reconstruction within its ability, she said.