FOR PEACE: Children chase pigeons on a street in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, on June 2 (XINHUA/AFP)

At the International Day of Peace 2013 & China-South Asia Peace and Development Forum, held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on September 21-22, prior to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to China on September 25, panelists took part in a discussion themed Peace Building Process in Afghanistan: the New Starting-Point for Reconciliation and Cooperation of Countries in the Region. Beijing Review reporter Liu Yunyun covered the panel discussion. Excerpts follow:

Ahmad Zaher Nuri

Member of International Studies of Center for Strategic Studies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan

Afghanistan has gone through decades of upheaval. After extended periods of insecurity and the downfall of multiple regimes, Afghanistan finally has an elected central government, chosen by the people of Afghanistan.

To achieve security and long-term peace, we need to have a carefully designed program to regulate internal affairs. That will need serious, honest and continuous cooperation from the international community, especially cooperation from neighboring countries and the region, to formulate a collective security mechanism for Afghanistan.

Even small steps toward peace cost a lot for the people of Afghanistan and the state. The high number of armed groups, absence of representation, continuation of proxy warfare, radicalism, and external interferences—these are just some of the obstacles to achieving peace.

Despite the challenges, Afghanistan is committed to the process. The Afghan Government supported the establishment of a Qatar office of the Taliban to begin serious negotiations with them to approach a sustainable peace.

We are eager to learn through different experiences and models of peace building policies. Peace is the final outcome of any war, because no war can or should continue forever.

Sun Yuxi

Former Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan

China has been cooperating with the United States in dealing with affairs related to Afghanistan. However, it is the Afghan Government and its people who will have to play the essential role in realizing national reconciliation. Any outside interference will only make things worse.

In Afghanistan, China and the United States cooperated with, rather than confronting, each other to ensure peace and stability in the country. From 2002-04, China gave $150 million in aid to Afghanistan to repair its Parvan water conservation project. China has also provided military uniforms and telecommunication services to Afghanistan. At that time, many countries had contributed to the economic reshaping of the country. For instance, U.S. forces helped build the Afghan national army; Germany helped with the building of the national police; Italy gave assistance in the establishment of an Afghan court; and China was responsible for coordinating the relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors.

China has actively participated in Afghan reconstruction projects and will continue to do so in the future. Afghanistan is rich in mineral resources and a Chinese company has gained approval to explore a copper mine, which will generate enormous economic benefit for the Afghan Government that will better equip its armed forces. The Afghan Government should consider how to protect the safety of foreign investors and investment in the country.

The American people and the world embrace the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, but fear the country will again fall into the hands of terrorists. I strongly suggest that the UN play a major role in rebuilding the war-torn country. If Afghanistan feels it is difficult to maintain peace in the country, the UN peace-keeping force might be a better resort.