President urges coordinated support for Afghanistan

A joint statement and a Tunxi Proposal to support Afghan reconstruction were issued after the meeting. The statement announced the launch of a regular meeting mechanism of special envoys on Afghanistan from neighboring countries and the establishment of three working groups regarding politics, economy and security. It also called for international support for Afghan refugees' return to the country.

The fourth meeting will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in the first quarter of next year.

Imtiaz Gul, executive director of the Center for Research and Security Studies in Pakistan, said President Xi's appeal is a reflection of the commitment to the ideals of regional peace and connectivity through an all-encompassing approach, not only for Afghanistan but for the entire region.

Amina Khan, director of the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, said that China has played the role of a mediator as well as a facilitator, and is a supporter of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

China is viewed very positively in Afghanistan by all the different ethnic factions, primarily because of its policy of noninterference and neutrality, and for its focus on Afghanistan by providing much-needed economic and developmental assistance, Khan said.