Afghan President Hamid
Karzai (L, front) is greeted by a Chinese girl upon his arrival at the Pudong
International Airport in Shanghai, east China on June 14, 2006. Karzai is here
to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as guest of
the host country. (Xinhua Photo)
Special report: SCO Summit 2006
SHANGHAI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Hamid
Karzai arrived here Wednesday morning to attend the summit of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) slated for Thursday, as guest of the host
country.
This is the second time that Karzai attends a SCO
summit. He was present at the 2004 SCO summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he
met with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
"Afghanistan belongs to the region where also lies
the SCO. Afghanistan has no other ways, and can't be outside the region," Karzai
said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua before his departure for Shanghai.
Afghanistan and China are "very good neighbors, very
good friends," said the Afghan president. Karzai will pay a state visit to China
from June 18 to 21.
"Relations with China have immense importance for
Afghanistan, "he said. "During this visit, I would like to strengthen, deepen
and enhance Afghanistan's relationship with China in many fields of strategic
importance."
In January 2002, Karzai visited China as chairman of the Afghan Interim Government. Enditem
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