China and Russia have joined together in calling on the international community to support the formation of a coalition government in Afghanistan.
Chinese state media reported yesterday that in a series of telephone calls, the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers outlined their positions on Afghanistan, the international fight against terrorism and Islam.
The informal talks and agreement on a position on the current crisis in Afghanistan are further signs of the strengthening relationship between the two countries. China and Russia signed a friendship agreement earlier this year.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Igor Ivanov, told his Chinese counterpart, Mr Tang Jiaxuan, that the international community should support the establishment of "a coalition government with a wide-ranging basis" in Afghanistan.
The Chinese Communist Party newspaper, The People's Daily, quoted Mr Tang as saying an Afghan coalition government which was "able to co-operate with neighbouring countries in a friendly manner" would benefit the Afghan people and regional peace and stability.
"China and Russia have the same stance and interests on the issue of anti-terrorism," he was quoted as saying.
Both countries have backed a United States-led war against terrorism following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, due in large part to their own concerns about Islamic extremist groups.
Moscow and Beijing want Western support for their campaigns against groups they view as terrorists instead of criticism over human rights abuses.
In the telephone exchanges, the Chinese foreign minister drew parallels between Moscow's conflict in Chechnya and Beijing's campaign against Islamic separatists in the north-western region of Xinjiang.
Parts of the province has been closed off to foreign journalists. A request by The Irish Times to visit was turned down last week "for your own safety".
Also in the last week, China has shut its narrow border with Afghanistan to foreigners.
The People's Daily quoted Mr Ivanov as saying the United Nations should play a greater role in the campaign against terrorism and military strikes should have clear targets and not spread to other countries.
The Chinese foreign minister also spoke by telephone this week with the Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mr Sheikh Hamad.
Qatar currently heads the 56-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Mr Tang reportedly told him that that Islamic countries were also victims of terrorism and said China was "clearly opposed to associating terrorism with any religion, nationality or region".
Mr Hamad said the Islamic world was opposed to any terrorist activities but it was necessary to distinguish between terrorism and Islam.