China's top security officer made a surprise visit to Afghanistan and signed security and economic pacts aimed at boosting bilateral ties before the withdrawal of troops by the NATO in 2014, media reports said Sunday.
The rare gesture marks the first visit to Afghanistan by a Chinese official in around fifty years. Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's central Politburo and head of domestic security, held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at his residence.
The agreements reportedly include security and economic cooperation, and a deal to provide support in training the Afghan police force.
The meeting assumes significance amid speculations of China's keen interest in making investments in Afghanistan's huge resource deposits.
Zhou's trip followed a visit by Karzai to China in June this year, during which the Asian countries agreed to cooperate on fighting terrorism in the region.
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