China hopes UN move can promote stability in Afghanistan
( 2001-12-21 09:26 ) (8 )

China on Thursday voiced its hope that the new UN Security Council resolution will be conducive to peace and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan.

Shen Guofang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement in an exclusive interview at the United Nations just after the council unanimously adopted a resolution to authorize the deployment of a multinational force to help keep peace in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

"We support the resolution, and we hope that it will help promote stability in Afghanistan," he said.

The draft resolution was put to vote after consensus was reached by the five permanent members of the 15-nation council in the wake of several rounds of consultations, he said.

The five permanent members, which have veto power on the council, are China, Britain, France, Russia and the United States.

"During the consultations, we stressed that the purpose of the UN Charter should be observed and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan be safeguarded," he said.

"We maintain that the Afghan problems should be solved ultimately by Afghans themselves," he said, adding that the other UN organs should also be involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan once the situation in the country is stabilized.

The Security Council Thursday voted 15-0 to authorize the deployment of the multinational force to provide security, initially just in the Kabul and the surrounding areas, with Britain leading the peace-keeping troops.

The Security Council measure followed the agreement signed by four Afghan factions in Bonn, Germany, on December 5 to establish an interim government.