BEIJING, Dec 26 (INP): A spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying has said that China and Pakistan will maintain strategic coordination to find out negotiated settlement of the Afghan issue.

Commenting on the recent visit of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to Beijing and his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, she said the two sides had in-depth discussions on the latest developments surrounding the situation in Afghanistan and reached broad consensus.

Hua told newsmen at a regular press conference that the two sides agreed that military actions will not help solve the Afghanistan issue and political reconciliation represents the only practical and viable way out of it.

The two sides welcomed the miscellaneous efforts made by all parties and expressed commitments to staying in close communication and strategic coordination.

The two sides also agreed to deepen China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and continuously elevate all-around cooperation, she added.

When asked about China’s view on the US decision to pull out of its troops from Afghanistan, the spokesperson said, the US side makes its own decisions on whatever actions they take.

For us, she added, “Our position on the Afghan issue is consistent. We always believe that military actions will not help solve the Afghanistan issue, and only an inclusive and political reconciliation process led and owned by the Afghan people can offer a practical and viable solution.

China has been playing a constructive role in encouraging all parties in Afghanistan to achieve reconciliation and cooperation.

Hua Chunying said, “We hope that all parties could work together to expedite Afghanistan's reconciliation and cooperation process so that the Afghan people could enjoy peace, security and development at an early date.”

The spokesperson said, “We believe that it will be a good thing for the whole South Asia region if Afghanistan can realize security, stability and development at an early date.”

INP/J/SB