KABUL -The Afghanistan CEO’s office said they warmly welcome efforts byChina to initiate and help facilitate peace talks.

A high level delegation from China is expected to visit Afghanistan in thenear future where it will announce Beijing’s full support to the Afghan-ledand Afghan-owned peace process, the office of Mohammad Hanif Atmar,national security advisor to the president said Thursday, TOLO News hasreported.

Meanwhile, Army Gen. Joseph Votel, the commander of US Central Command hassaid that the US will continue putting military, social and politicalpressure on the Taliban to press the group to come to the negotiating table.

“Asian countries including China are continuing their efforts for peacetalks in Afghanistan and we warmly welcome their efforts and hope thatthese efforts finaly bring the Taliban to the negotiation table,” saiddeputy spokesman to CEO Abdullah Abdullah Omaid Maisam.

Forces in Afghanistan are applying military pressure on the Taliban toconvince them to enter talks toward reconciliation with the Afghangovernment, Votel noted.