LONDON, Jan. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here on Monday that the U.S. would not abandon Afghanistan and risk provoking another September 11 attack.

    "The U.S. has a robust commitment to Afghanistan, militarily, politically, economically and we are going to continue that robust presence," Rice told reporters at a press conference on the eve of a two-day international donors conference in London.

    "We made the mistake once before of leaving Afghanistan. Not only did Afghans pay for it, Americans paid for it on September 11," said Rice, adding that "we are not going to make that mistake again."

    Representatives from about 70 countries are due to attend the conference, trying to produce a blueprint for international cooperation with Afghanistan for the next five years. And British Prime Minister Tony Blair, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Afghan President Hamid Karzai will also attend the meeting.

    Rice is also expected to attend "private ministerial dinner" hosted by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Monday night for informal talks on Iran nuclear issue with her counterparts from France, Germany, Russia, and China. Enditem