China to forgive US$18m Afghan debt

China announced it will write off US$18 million of Afghan debt which the country borrowed in 1965. Chinese officials made the announcement at a joint press conference with Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani. China said it is planning to provide Afghanistan with aid totaling US$150 million which will be used to rebuild a hospital in Kabul and to set up an irrigation system north of Kabul, according to Chinese media reports.