BEIJING, May 20 (INP): Representatives of  Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran held a virtual meeting and discussed the Afghan issue and issued a joint statement.

The spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian said here at a regular news briefing that Special Envoy on Afghan affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Liu Jian, Russian Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, Iranian Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian, and Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan Safdar Hayat held a video conference on May 18 and had an in-depth exchange of views on the current situation in Afghanistan and the peace and reconciliation process.

The meeting was hosted by the Russian side. The four parties issued a joint statement afterwards.

The joint statement welcomes the signing of the political agreement by the two major Afghan political leaders and calls on all parties in Afghanistan to seize the opportunity to launch intra-Afghan talks and realize comprehensive and sustainable peace at an early date.

It calls on foreign troops to withdraw in an orderly and responsible manner to ensure a smooth transition. It expresses hope that relevant UN Security Council resolutions will be observed and implemented, and urges all parties in Afghanistan to resolutely combat international terrorist organizations. It reaffirms support for Afghanistan in the fight against COVID-19.

At present, the situation in Afghanistan is at a critical stage. As Afghanistan's traditional friendly neighbor, China respects the Afghan people's independent decision on their own future and development path, and will do its best to support Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction.

China firmly supports the "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" peace and reconciliation process and hopes that intra-Afghan talks will start and yield positive results at an early date.

China will continue strengthening communication and coordination with relevant parties in Afghanistan and making constructive efforts with the international community for the political settlement of the Afghan issue, the spokesperson added.

INP/JAVED