China on January 26 called for concerted efforts to agree upon a reconciliation roadmap acceptable to all.

The Afghan government and all political parties should map out a reasonable reconciliation program. Pakistan could play a positive and special role. Stakeholders, including the United States, should take necessary measures to support the peace process, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Wang was speaking during a joint press briefing following talks with visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.

On January 18, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States held the second round of talks on the Afghan peace process in Kabul.

The four nations issued a joint statement following the meeting calling on the Taliban to join the peace process. The four parties also made some progress on the roadmap of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, according to the joint statement.

Referring to China as a "trust-worthy and reliable partner" of the Afghan people, Wang reiterated that China backs an "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" reconciliation process and spoke highly of the resumption of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

"China supports all initiatives and measures that are conducive for the reconciliation and resumption of peace talks. This also accords with China's security interests," Wang said .

He added that China will continue to support, mediate and provide favorable conditions for the peace talks. China will also improve communication with Russia, Iran and India to support the peace process.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the development of China-Afghanistan relations in the meeting.

Wang said China was ready to strengthen cooperation, especially in development and security, to promote the strategic partnership of cooperation.

Calling China a close friend of Afghanistan, Rabbani thanked China for its "important and constructive role" in the peace and reconstruction process.

He said his nation was willing to join the Belt and Road initiative to promote regional intercommunication and common prosperity.

According to a press release after the talks, high-level engagement will be strengthened. China welcomes Afghanistan's CEO Abdullah Abdullah to visit China at a time convenient to both sides.

China will help Afghanistan with residential construction, personnel training and improvement of people's livelihood. China will also help Afghanistan map out plans for infrastructure construction, the press release said.

China supports Afghanistan in joining regional economic cooperation and welcomes it to take part in the Belt and Road initiative. The two sides will sign a cooperation deal in this regard.

The two countries vowed to further strengthen cooperation in security, anti-terrorism, culture and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides will back bilateral exchanges between universities, think tanks and localities.

International and regional mechanisms related to Afghanistan will also be given attention, and support will be extended to the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, with discussions on the expansion of trilateral cooperation among China, Afghanistan and the United States floated.

Afghanistan hopes to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. China said it welcomes the requests, the press release said.

Rabbani is on a four-day official visit to China at the invitation of Wang. Lasting from January 25 to 28, this is his first China visit since taking office. Vice President Li Yuanchao also met Rabbani on January 26.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2016)