On October 15, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met at the Great Hall of the People with Afghan Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili, who is here for the eighth prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

Wen said China and Afghanistan are traditional friendly neighbors and their relations have been pushed to one new level after another thanks to the joint efforts of both sides. It is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, but also conducive to regional peace and stability for the two countries to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and realize common development. China has always respected Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the will and choice of the Afghan people, he said. Wen said China hoped Afghanistan could realize peace, stability and development at an early date. As a friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, China will continue to offer support and assistance for Afghanistan's reconstruction, and encourage qualified and reputable companies to invest in Afghanistan, and to strengthen bilateral practical cooperation in fields such as trade, economy and agriculture. Wen also called on the international community to pay more attention to the Afghan people's living standards, and to support Afghanistan's social and economic development.

Khalili extended sincere congratulation to Wen on the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China. He said Afghanistan and China, as friendly neighbors, share traditional friendship. The two countries had never encountered any problems in the development of bilateral relations. He thanked for China's support and help with Afghanistan's economic reconstruction. Khalili said Afghanistan was ready to work with China to maintain the sound momentum of cooperation, deepen the two nations' practical cooperation in all areas and ensure successful implementation of the Afghanistan-China cooperation projects. Afghanistan welcomes Chinese enterprises to continue to expand investment in its infrastructure and other projects concerning people's livelihood. The Afghan government would try its best to safeguard the security of Chinese institutions and personnel in Afghanistan, said Khalili.