Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has pledged ongoing support for Afghanistan and signed a 320 million Australian dollar ($240 million USD) development agreement with President Ashraf Ghani in Canberra.
Ghani is on a three-day visit to the country as part of his three nation Asia-Pacific tour.
Turnbull said after his meeting with Ghani that Australia would remain focused on helping Afghanistan in its efforts to become more prosperous, secure and self-reliant, ABC news reported.
The Afghanistan-Australia development partnership will be over four years to 2020.
The presidential palace said in a statement that Ghani and Turnbull had discussed economic cooperation, the fight against terrorism, women and children's rights and other issues of mutual interest.
The Australian PM said his country will remain a strategic partner with Afghanistan in fighting terrorism.
ABC also reported that issues around agriculture and water management, training of Afghan civil servants and anti-corruption initiatives were also discussed between the two leaders.
The news portal stated that Geoscience Australia will work with the Afghan ministry of mines to improve the management of energy, mineral and water resources.
The presidential palace reported that Ghani thanked Australia for its ongoing assistance in various sectors and reiterated that terrorism is a threat to the region and to the world.
Ghani said the world needs to join hands to fight extremism and terrorism.
He also told his Australian counterpart that the Afghan government had made significant strides in improving rule of law, freedom of speech, human rights as well as women and children's rights, education, fight against corruption in public offices and in other fields.
Before meeting Turnbull, Ghani laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial.
Australia has lost 41 troops in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/5924
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