China, US to train Afghan diplomats

A group of young Afghan diplomats began a two-week training session in Washington on Monday as part of a joint program organized by the United States and China.

The program, now in its third year, has seen the US and China partner to train early-career Kabul diplomats, who visit the two countries to develop their diplomatic, communications and management skills.

The group, which took part in a two-week session in Beijing in May, will learn more about US policy regarding Afghanistan, US-China relations, and the way foreign policy is conducted in the US.

"I'm happy that the US and China have come to see support for Afghanistan's sovereignty and economic development as an area of common interest and action," US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Dan Feldman said at the opening ceremony.

The joint program is a "good example of how the new model of major-country relationship between China and the US can contribute to the region," said Wu Xi, minister of Chinese Embassy in the United States.

Ahmad Nawid Ariayl, a participant of past programs, described the training as "useful and productive" and said he had benefited from past sessions on communication and negotiation skills.

During their two-week stay, the Afghan diplomats are also scheduled to visit the Chinese and Afghan embassies, tour Washington, meet with diplomats and scholars from various think tanks, practice diplomatic simulations at the University of Maryland, and visit the United Nations and the Afghan consulate in New York City.