CRI听力:China Pledges Assistance to Afghan Reconstruction

The Chinese government is pledging 2 billion yuan worth of assistance in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

The commitment has been made as part of the new Afghan President's current trip to China.

CRI's Chloe Lyme has more:

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in China on Tuesday.

This is his first foreign visit since taking office last month.

Ghani has already met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"It's a pleasure for me to meet President Ghani. China is the destination for your first foreign visit and the visit comes within one month of you taking office. We feel this reflects the importance you place on bilateral ties. I also attach great importance to your visit and I'm ready to work with you to push forward bilateral cooperation in the future."

In meeting with Ghani, Xi Jinping is promising Chinese assistance in helping with Afghanistan's reconstruction.

This includes over 80 million U.S. dollars in grant assistance this year, on top of an additional 250-million US dollars in aide over the next three years.

The Chinese side is also promising to help train 3-thousand professionals over the next 5-years to develop Afghanistan's agriculture, hydroelectric and infrastructure sectors.

For his part, Ashraf Ghani says his country is glad to be involved in the 21st century Silk Road economic plan.

He says the initiative should help with regional connectivity.

"We look at China as a strategic partner in the short term, medium term, long term and very long term. We very much welcome your vision for South Asia and the Silk Road. You've opened not just a new chapter for Asia, but an entirely new book. Our vision for Afghanistan is as a hub for regional trade and transit in peace."

Both Ghani and Xi Jinping have also overseen the signing of a number of agreements connected to economic cooperation and humanitarian aid.

As part of his time in China, Ashraf Ghani is due to attend an international ministerial conference on Afghanistan's reconstruction and reconciliation process, which is scheduled to take place on Friday.

For CRI, I'm Chloe Lyme.