China urges political solution to Afghanistan issue

China on Friday responded to a question regarding the Taliban's annual spring offensive by urging the various parties to seek a political solution through dialogue.

"China has always held the belief that a realistic way to solve the problem in Afghanistan is through the promotion of reconciliation," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a regular press briefing.

"We support Afghanistan to push forward a reconciliation process that is dominated and owned by the Afghan people, and urge various parties of the country to seek a political settlement through negotiations," Hong was quoted by Chinese News Agency (Xinhua) as saying.

China is ready to play a constructive role in this regard, he added.

The Afghan Taliban announced on Wednesday their annual spring offensive will start on Friday.

This will be the first fighting season in which the Afghan national security force battle the insurgents alone, after US and NATO-led troops ended their mission in Afghanistan late in December 2014.