Common interests contribute to strong China-Afghanistan ties(2)

Karzai said that he exchanged views with Chinese leaders on a broad range of issues and the two sides have not only expanded bilateral ties, but also shared common views on a lot of international and regional issues.

With his fifth visit to China coming to an end, Karzai said he was deeply impressed with China's long history and civilization as well as its ability to preserve it and share it with the rest of the world.

China's "achievements of development" and the people's "heightened living standard" have left him with an equally deep impression, he said.

"The two combined gives China a great future as you move forward," Karzai said.

An ethnic Pashtun, Karzai was born in 1957. He graduated from Habibia High School in Kabul in 1976 and took a postgraduate course in political science at Himachal Pradesh University in India from 1979 to 1983.

In addition to his native tongue Pashto, he is also well versed in foreign languages such as Dari, Urdu and English.