China has offered to host a meeting between the Afghan government and Taliban but has declined to mediate. China's special envoy for Afghanistan Deng Xijun called the Taliban "one of the main forces in Afghanistan's political arena." Earlier this year, China had facilitated a meeting between Afghan High Peace Council and Taliban in Urumqi. Deng said that the Chinese government wants early revival of the Murree process. Deng visited Pakistan and Afghanistan soon after his appointment as special envoy for Afghanistan. "We will support Pakistan to continue playing its constructive and crucial role in the Afghan peace process," Deng said. To a question about the role of the United States in the peace process, he said there was an understanding between Washington and Beijing to push the peace process forward. Like Pakistan, China opposes a military solution to the Afghan conflict and favours intra-Afghan dialogue. "We think dialogue is the only way out for Afghanistan to achieve lasting peace and stability," Deng said. "We have difficulties and obstacles when we have in such kind of things. We have many problems and challenges ahead but if we sit down, if we talk with each other, then I think the future is bright", he added. He reassured Pakistan of China's continued support in addressing common challenges faced by the region. Both Pakistan and China have convergent interests and shared goals with regards to Afghanistan.
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