BEIJING - The United States should properly handle its troop presence in Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday.

Qin's comment came after President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday a plan for keeping 9,800 troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, but virtually withdrawing all by the end of 2016.

China has always maintained that Afghan sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, Qin reiterated at a regular news briefing.

"The US troops presence should be conducive to the reconstruction in Afghanistan and peace, stability and security in the region," Qin said.

More than 52,000 NATO-ISAF forces with some 33,000 of them Americans are presently stationed in Afghanistan.