Related video: Exclusive interview with Afghan ambassador to China

BEIJING - As the world looks back at Sept 11, 2001, Afghanistan's envoy to China says that while his country was transformed by that date, the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks is a time for Afghans to look forward.

The international response to Sept 11 "helped the people of Afghanistan to change their way of life, to work for a better life, to reconstruct the country and build national institutions", Ambassador Sultan Baheen told China Daily in an exclusive interview on Friday.

"I am an optimistic person," he said. "If we see progress in 10 years, even if it doesn't completely meet our expectations, Afghanistan will be much different than now.