The second Joint China-US Training Program for Afghanistan Diplomats started its US leg in Washington D.C. Monday.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins, Minister of the Chinese Embassy to the United States Lu Kang, and Eklil Ahmad Hakimi, Afghan ambassador to the United States attended the opening ceremony at the US State Department.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also sent a congratulatory message to the launch of the US part of the training program. In the message, he said, "The Joint China-US Training Program for Afghan Diplomats is a successful example of cooperation between China and the US on a third country."

China stands ready to work with the international community including the United States to continue providing assistance to Afghanistan to the best of its ability and actively endeavor to promote Afghanistan's reconstruction process as well as peace, stability and development of the region, said Wang.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lu Kang said the year of 2014 will be crucial for the people of Afghanistan, and China hopes it will maintain peace, stability and development in the process of political, economic and security transition.

Describing it as an important facet of the US relationship with both Afghanistan and China, Dobbins said the joint training program serves the common interests of the United States and China in facilitating a peaceful, stable, constructive, and modern Afghanistan.

The diplomats training is only part of a series of joint efforts, with additional programs for nurses and agricultural experts being launched in the future, he added.

A total of 12 young Afghan diplomats started the two-week training, during which they will take lectures on diplomacy, public communication, and embassy management, as well as visit the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C.. The Chinese part of the program will be held in Beijing later this year.

Farhat Hassanzoi, a young diplomat who has participated in this program for the first time, said she has "a lot of hope" for the training, and believes they will face both challenges and opportunities during the program.