China and Afghanistan will resume cultural exchanges and cooperation, said Bai Lichen, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in Beijing Wednesday.  

Bai made the remarks in a meeting with an Afghan delegation led by Saeed Makhdoom Rahim, minister for information and culture of the transitional Islamic government of Afghanistan.

Bai said Saeed's visit indicates the resumption of cultural relations between the two countries, hoping that the two sides regard the visit as a starting point to gradually develop cultural exchanges and cooperation, so as to make contribution to the bilateral friendship.

Saeed expressed his hope that the two countries strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the cultural field and then further promote the good neighborly friendship between the two countries.

Saeed, as the first Afghan culture minister to visit China, is paying the visit at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2004)