BEIJING, September 19 (INP): State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Dushanbe with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Senior Representative of Iranian Foreign Minister Rasoul Mousavi on the sidelines of the SCO and CSTO summits to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov chaired the meeting. 

Briefing the newsmen about the meeting, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian said here that on September 16, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large.  

They stressed that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan should be respected, the basic principle of "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" should be implemented, and the right of the Afghan people to pursue peace, tranquility, development and prosperity should be upheld. 

The parties stressed that the US and its allies bear the primary responsibility for Afghanistan's social and economic reconstruction and should provide much-needed economic, livelihood and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. 

The parties believe that Afghanistan needs to realize national reconciliation and establish an inclusive government that takes into account the interests of all ethnic groups. Noting the security challenges facing Afghanistan, they stressed the need to coordinate efforts to address such threats as terrorism and drug trafficking, and to safeguard regional stability and the legitimate concerns and interests of neighboring countries. 

The parties expressed concern over the uncertain humanitarian and socio-economic situation in Afghanistan and the possible risk of refugee flows, pointed out the necessity of Afghanistan's return to peace and economic recovery, and called on the international community to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. 

The parties agreed to continue coordination and convene meetings at various levels at appropriate times, the spokesperson added. 

INP/JAVED