LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The two-day London Conference on Afghanistan ended on Wednesday with pledges to provide 10.5 billion U.S. dollars for rebuilding the Central Asian country over the next five years.

    The provision was to help Afghanistan fight poverty, improve security and crack down on the drug trade, British Foreign Office minister Kim Howells said at the conclusion of the conference.

    "This money will provide the necessary basis for getting Afghanistan's work under way," said he, adding that "this level of commitment underscores the message that Afghanistan will remain a priority for the international community."

    The United States pledged 1.1 billion dollars in extra funding for Afghanistan in the coming year.

    One billion dollars were pledged by the Asian Development Bank, 855 million dollars from Britain, 480 million dollars from Germany and 450 million dollars from Japan.

    China pledged 80 million RMB (nearly 10 million US dollars ) in aid to Afghanistan in 2006.

    Envoys from nearly 70 nations and international bodies, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, attended the conference on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. And Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also attended the meeting.

    Representatives signed a five-year blueprint at the conference for helping the war-shattered Central Asian country along the roadto peace and self-sufficiency.

    The plan, known as the "Afghanistan Compact," sets out specific targets for boosting economic and social development, bolstering security, enhancing governance, strengthening the rule of law and improving human rights conditions.   Enditem