India, China discuss Afghan security

Beijing, April 19 (IANS) China and India have agreed that Afghanistan's situation is an issue closely related to regional security and stability, the Chinese foreign ministry said Thursday.

It was for the first time that the two neighbours discussed the security scenario of Afghanistan here.

Luo Zhaohui, head of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese foreign ministry, and Y.K. Sinha, additional secretary of the Indian external affairs ministry, co-chaired the talks, Xinhua reported.

Both sides also agreed that the talks between them will be conducive to enhancing mutual coordination and cooperation, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a daily press briefing.

They reiterated that they would like to support Afghanistan in its reconciliation process and help it achieve peace, stability, independence and development in cooperation with other countries in the region and the international community.