BEIJING: China will continue to play a positive and constructive role in the reconstruction and reconciliation process of Afghanistan and this year Beijing will host the fourth Foreign Ministers' Conference of the Istanbul Process, said a Chinese foreign ministry official here.

The foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei has made these remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on trilateral meeting held between China-Russia-India on Afghanistan in Beijing . China also has similar dialogues with relevant countries such as Russia and Pakistan on the Afghan issue.

Hong informed that relevant meetings with parties concerned are held with the purpose of jointly maintaining regional peace and stability.

Since situation and stability of Afghanistan has a bearing on regional peace and security, we always respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, he observed.

He continued to say that China respect the development path chosen by the Afghan people based on their own national conditions and support Afghanistan in realizing steady transition and improving and growing relations with other countries in the region.

He expressed the hope that substantive progress could be made in the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process at an early date.

Hong emphasized that relevant parties should honor their commitment to the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan, respect and accommodate the legitimate concerns of countries in the region on relevant issues.

Kazakhstan hosted the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan in 2013.

SOURCE: APP