China's president pledged “selfless help” to Afghanistan on Friday, as the leaders of the two countries agreed to upgrade their trade, aid, investment and security relations.

At a meeting in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, President Hu Jintao told Afghan President Hamid Karzai that China would continue to provide help to Afghanistan as it enters “a critical transition period.”

China is positioning itself for a bigger role in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of most U.S. and other international troops at the end of 2014.

The two leaders signed a strategic partnership agreement, under which China said it would encourage Chinese investment, help build infrastructure, grant scholarships to Afghan students and provide $24 million in aid this year.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two sides rejected terrorism, extremism, separatism and organized crime.