China's Minister of National Defense and State Councilor Gen. Chang Wanquan thanked the Afghan National Army (ANA) for its support in combating a Muslim-Chinese extremist group fighting to have the Muslim-majority, Uyghur-dominated province of Xinjiang declare independence from China.

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Gen. Chang conveyed Beijing's gratitude to Gen. Qadam Shah Shahim, Chief of General Staff (CGS) of ANA, for the Afghan military's assistance in China's fight against the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), otherwise known as the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP).

ETIM is an Islamic terrorist and separatist organization founded by Uyghur militants in Xinjiang. Its main goal is to secure the independence of Xinjiang from China. The United States and the United Nations have labeled ETIM a terrorist group.

According to the Chinese government, ETIM allegedly committed over 200 acts of terrorism that caused at least 162 deaths and over 440 injuries from 1990 to 2001. ETIM is allied with Al Qaeda.

"I thank Afghanistan for its valuable support in combating ETIM terrorist forces and on issues related to China's core interests," said Gen Chang to Gen. Shahim.

"I hope the two militaries can continually enrich the shape and content of cooperation and make greater contributions to safeguarding both countries' security and creating a favorable environment for joint development," he added.

Gen. Shahim replied by saying Afghanistan is willing to continue fighting ETIM by "deepening cooperation on personnel training and joint exercises and other means."

China values the geographic position of Afghanistan in Central Asia in promoting trans-border economic linkages between western China, Central Asia the Persian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent.

Afghanistan was one of only eight nations that officially acknowledged joining China in repudiating the July 12 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that declared as illegal China's claim to own most of the South China Sea.

Afghanistan is also a recipient of massive Chinese investments. Early this year, China agreed to invest in the Kunar 1,500 megawatt hydropower plant and in building road and rail connections between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The power plant was previously supported only by Pakistan, China's top ally in the Muslim world.

TagsGen. Chang Wanquan, Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, Gen. Qadam Shah Shahim