KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani believes the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can play a key role in strengthening regional connectivity and combating terrorism.
Before his departure for China to attend the two-day SCO summit, slated for Saturday through Sunday, he said boosting economic and trade cooperation within the regional bloc would be the focus of discussion.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Kabul, the president hoped for winning support for regional connectivity and dealing with the common threat of terrorism.
"Our objective now is to turn Afghanistan into a land bridge between East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia," he said.
Afghanistan had been on the frontline in the war against terrorism, he said, insisting: "We fight and die on behalf of our neighbors."
Afghanistan, being an SCO observer, should raise the level of cooperation with member countries to jointly ensure regional security.
As the world's second largest economy, China was an engine of the Asian economy, the president said.
"China, for instance, has a huge demand for marble. Afghanistan has over 40 varieties of marble,” Ghani said, noting an increase in people-to-people contacts between the neighbors. (Pajhwok)
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KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani believes the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can play a key role in strengthening regional connectivity and combating terrorism. Before his departure for China to attend the two-day SCO summit, slated for Saturday through Sunday, he said boosting economic and trade cooperation within the regional bloc would be the focus of discussion. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Kabul, the president hoped for winning support for regional connectivity and dealing with the common threat of terrorism. "Our objective now is to turn Afghanistan into a land bridge between East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia," he said. Afghanistan had been on the frontline in the war against terrorism, he said, insisting: "We fight and die on behalf of our neighbors." Afghanistan, being an SCO observer, should raise the level of cooperation with member countries to jointly ensure regional security. As the world's second largest economy, China was an engine of the Asian economy, the president said. "China, for instance, has a huge demand for marble. Afghanistan has over 40 varieties of marble,” Ghani said, noting an increase in people-to-people contacts between the neighbors. (Pajhwok)