Kabul, Sep 22 (IANS): Afghan president-elect Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai Monday vowed to work for peace, economic prosperity and national unity with the objective to take the conflict-ridden country towards self-reliance.

"We have to look forward for the betterment of our country, we have to work to improve our country's economy and help the country to stand on its feet and I am committed to spare no efforts in achieving the noble objective," Ghani Ahmadzai said at his first meeting with people gathered in a local school.

Ghani Ahmadzai, who was declared by the Afghan election commission Sunday as the country's new president to replace outgoing President Hamid Karzai, also pointed out in his speech that "the time for begging has gone and Afghanistan as a great nation should stand on its feet", Xinhua reported.

The Afghan president-elect also said that his government would be a national unity administration with the participation of his election challenger Abdullah Abdullah, will be accountable and will report to the nation on its achievements each six months.

He also said that Afghanistan was a united country and would remain united forever.

The national unity government agreed upon by Ghani Ahmadzai and his election challenger Abdullah Abdullah Sunday, which brought to an end the months-long deadlock, will assume office from outgoing President Karzai in a few days, thus marking the first ever peaceful power transition in Afghanistan's history.