Beijing, Oct 22 (IANS): Afghanistan's new President, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai will pay a state visit to China from next Tuesday to Friday, his first foreign visit since assuming office last month, the Chinese foreign ministry announced Wednesday.

China has attached great importance to the visit, which is the first high-level visit between China and Afghanistan since the new Afghan government was formed, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

Chinese leaders will have an in-depth exchange of views with Ghani on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, Xinhua cited Hua as saying.

"We hope that the visit will help deepen tangible cooperation between China and Afghanistan in various areas, and show China's support of Afghanistan's steady transition and peaceful reconstruction so as to forge ahead the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation," Hua said.

Ghani was sworn in the new President of Afghanistan Sep 29, succeeing Hamid Karzai and marking the first-ever peaceful power transition in the history of the war-torn country.

Calling Afghanistan "a traditional good neighbour of China", Hua said China valued development of ties with Afghanistan, firmly adopted a friendly policy towards Afghanistan, and supported its reconstruction.

China congratulated Afghanistan on its presidential election and the formation of a national unity government, said Hua, adding that China hoped the new government would lead the Afghan people to peace, stability and development.

China would provide assistance to Afghanistan's reconstruction within its ability, she said.