China supports Afghanistan for its efforts in pushing the peace and reconciliation process to resolve the Afghan issue through political dialogue, President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The key to lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan rests with persistence in the "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" political reconciliation process, Xi told his Afghan counterpart, adding that he appreciates the peace initiative Ghani unveiled to the Taliban early this year and the cease-fire he announced recently.

Hailing Afghanistan as China's good neighbor, Xi said consolidating and developing the traditional friendship between the two countries is China's consistent policy.

The countries should maintain high-level communications, maintain close exchanges between government and legislative departments as well as parties and the military at various levels, and strengthen local cooperation between authorities, he said.

Xi called for deepening pragmatic cooperation in economy and trade, saying China supports Afghanistan participating in construction of the Belt and Road Initiative to step up its infrastructure connectivity with other countries in the region.

The two countries should also enhance their security partnership in countering terrorism, Xi said.

China will continue to resolutely support Afghanistan's efforts in preserving its domestic security, Xi added.

Ghani congratulated China on its success in holding the Qingdao summit, saying the summit has formulated a bright vision for the organization's development.

The Afghan president expressed his gratitude to Xi for China's long-term assistance to his country, particularly the nation's peace and reconciliation process.

Afghanistan supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and other proposals in strengthening regional cooperation, and it is willing to intensify partnership with China in bilateral and regional affairs, Ghani said.