KABUL, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China and neighboring Afghanistan vowed on Thursday to deepen cooperation in the field of urbanization.

Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing together with Afghan Minister of Urban Development and Housing Sadat Mansoor Naderi agreed that the two countries should further enhance cooperation in the field of urbanization and city development.

Earlier on Thursday, Yao and Naderi signed an agreement on launching the first phase of a housing project, which has been the largest housing scheme in the war-torn country.

"We are a neighbor to Afghanistan, and we are a partner to Afghanistan," Yao told the ceremony.

The agreement is part of a large residential housing program that will be built by China in Afghanistan.

The first phase of the project, which consists of 1,400 apartments, will be completed in Dar-ul-Aman, a locality in southwestern side of Kabul. According to Naderi, Afghans who lost their family members in terrorist attacks and family members of soldiers who were killed during fight against insurgents will be the first to receive the houses.

Naderi thanked China for supporting Afghanistan's reconstruction and for helping Afghanistan facilitate the reconciliation process.