KABUL – General Mohammad Radmanesh, an Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman,has echoed China’s high-ranking military officials who denied reports aboutthe creation of a Chinese military base in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh told Sputnikthat efforts are under way to form a brigade and logistics for the Afghanmilitary rather than a base for Chinese servicemen in the north-easternprovince of Badakhshan.

“Earlier, the Afghan Defense Minister visited China to discuss the creationof a brigade in Badakhshan. China expressed its readiness to cooperate[with Afghanistanlink>]on technical equipment and maintenance of the base, as well as on otherissues.

There is no question of creating a Chinese military base in Badakhshan,”Radmanesh said.

Afghan political analyst Bashir Bezhan, for his part, told Sputnik thatthere are several factors behind China’s willingness to support Afghanistanlink>.

“First and foremost, China seeks to protect itself from the threatemanating from terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan,” he said.

Also, China is concerned about the current US presence in Afghanistanlink>andthe goals that Washington wants to accomplish in the region, accordingto him.

Additionally, Bezhan recalled that a major global economic player, Chinapursues economic goals when it comes to its cooperation with Afghanistan.

“Long-standing relations between immediate neighbors Afghanistan and Chinaalso add to Beijing’s drive to back Kabul,” he concluded.