Ladies and gentlemen,Good morning!I am very happy to attend the International Forum on China’70-Year Development and the Construction of the Community with Shared Future for Mankind and today I am also among the audience and I would like to thanks to the National Institute for Global Strategy and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to arrange and hold this meeting for inviting me for this significant event.Let me congratulate the Chinese people on the first occasion of the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. China has transformed the history of the world over the past seventy years and as a united nation, has spent the last seven decades with incredible success and countless achievements. Although China has faced many challenges over the past seventy years. The Chinese government has made its strategic and rigorous plans leading into its current position as the world superpower and the world’s second largest economy.Today, China, known as the most complete modern industrial system, the largest industrialized country, the largest trading nation and the largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, has grown from $ 1.5 trillion to $ 2 trillion in the last two years. And with the contribution of more than 7% of world economic growth, it has played a major role in global economic growth for the last 5 years.Over the past seventy years, China has also witnessed a remarkable improvement in the standard of living of its people, as the average life expectancy of people in China has increased from 35 years old in 1949 to 77 years old in 2018 and the country has been incredibly successful to take 700 million people out of poverty, that is more than 4% (it should be 70%) of the world’s poverty reduction. Also, the annual income of its people has increased nearly more than six times (it should be sixty times), making it the largest middle class in the world.China’s growth and progress is unstoppable. As a regional leader and global superpower in the future of the global economy, China is one of the key players in global cooperation and peace and a key player for the future and future of itself. The development process, especially the success of its massive economic projects, including the idea Belt and Road Initiative, will contribute more to the peace and security of the region.We believe that China, as a regional key power, will ensure security and peace in the region, especially in its neighboring countries. Afghanistan, a country that has been in conflict and violence for the last four decades, can play a significant role in China’s security process, especially the issue of counterterrorism, by which both of us are affected. And on the other hand, Afghanistan, with its geopolitical position, can serve as an economic gateway. The connecting location of this country as the regional connecting point of economic circles in Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and East Asia can be important for regional economic projects and cooperation, especially for greater convenience in programs such as the idea of a Belt and Road of China. As President Ashraf Ghani believes he has the opportunity to transform the field of global and regional competition into a platform of economic cooperation that requires not only national consensus and a strong and popular government, but also global support and cooperation, especially for countries around. It calls for an area where China, as a good neighbor and longtime partner of Afghanistan, can play a key role in the development, economy and peace process, as well as in fighting against terrorism, poverty reduction and other issues.Afghanistan, after 18 years of presence of the international community, has not only failed to provide security and build an efficient government, but is still a dependent country and has failed to have a sustainable economy. Moreover, with half of its population living in poverty, Afghanistan, despite being geographically rich in natural and underground resources, is still recognized as the poorest country in the world after Somalia. A recent report made by the Afghan Census Bureau in early 2008 on five factors (their educational status, health, living standards, employment and the impact of security on their livelihoods) shows that 1% of the population is in extreme poverty. Of course, the poverty rate in the cities is 18%, including the capital city of Kabul, at 15%, in the countryside at 61% and among the Kuchis at 89%.Poverty, along with a lack of proper security, is recognized as the biggest problem in Afghanistan, despite the enormous amount of aid that Afghanistan has received over the past 18 years, but with only about 80% of aid have not been effective to the lives and economic states of ordinary people. The main reason is that most project donors, especially large projects, have contracted with foreign companies, resulting in several contracts being awarded only 30 to 50 percent of the money spent on these projects in Afghanistan. 50% to 70% of the money has been returned to donor countries without coming to Afghanistan. Poor management and lack of regular government planning and proper management of opportunities and workforce are other major causes of poverty in Afghanistan. Although over 100,000 people enter the labour market each year, six million people do not have work. Afghanistan is unable to get ready for this number and over 40% unemployment. Poverty leads to the lack of sense of security. The lack of control over the number of family members in Afghanistan can directly affect economic development and the labor market. Because more than 61 percent of families live in poverty, and each with more than 10 members, has only one breadwinner. The illiteracy rate in Afghanistan is 60 percent. Corruption in government departments is widespread, and lack of attention to agricultural development also contributes to Afghanistan’s poverty.As a whole, Afghanistan has been poverty-stricken for many years, but in recent years this country has shown that through economic projects and programs, most of which have been in partnership with other countries in the region, it can provide a better prospect of a sustainable economy and poverty reduction. To reduce the level of poverty, there are projects and programs such as the three new transit corridors, for example, the Afghanistan-China Air Corridor; the opening and operationalization of the Chabahar Port; inauguration of practical regional projects like Casa 1000, TAPI Project Aquina-Atamurat railway transit route. These projects and programs can bring hope to the people for a better tomorrow.Joining in BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) in 2016 and CPAC are two other great options for Afghanistan. BRI and CPAC are not only important due to their economic values, but also are highly employable, which can be of great help in the process of poverty alleviation, and can also provide the basis for greater cooperation among the countries in the region.Afghanistan, as the Heart of Asia, has a long history and a key role to play in the Historic Silk Road, and it can provide many facilities for such projects and regional cooperation.