KABUL, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis paid a surprise visit to Afghan capital Kabul on Friday and in meeting with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani assured Washington's long-term support to Afghanistan, said a statement of Presidential Palace released here.

Mattis also assured that his country would continue its security and economic cooperation for enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Heading a ranking delegation, which also includes Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford, the Pentagon chief in meeting with the Afghan president also exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and the region, the impact of U.S. strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia, the upcoming Afghan parliamentary and presidential elections, war on terror and talks with Pakistan, the statement added.

The Afghan president, accompanied by Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, said that the Afghans and their government are thankful to the United States for its support to Afghanistan, according to the statement.