China backs Afghan ceasefire

BEIJING: China on Friday welcomed the temporary ceasefire declared by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the fight against the Taliban, saying military means cannot solve the Afghan problem.

"We hope all relevant parties can move in the same direction and initiate the peace talks at an early date. China firmly supports the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process and continues to play a constructive role in this aspect," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here.

"China appreciates the Afghan government's announcement that it will start a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban. China always thinks that military means cannot resolve the Afghan issue," Hua said in response to a question on Ghani's declaration of ceasefire.

Ghani said the ceasefire would last from June 12-20 and offered to hold peace talks with the Afghan Taliban.

China is trying to aid Afghanistan and Pakistan in resolving their differences over the Afghan Taliban, which Kabul alleges operates from Pakistani soil.

China hosted the first trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries last December.