Iraqi-Chinese discussions on the sidelines of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in Beijing

Baghdad-INA
Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, held discussions on the sidelines of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in Beijing, while stressing the compatibility of the “Development Road” and “Belt and Road” projects.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that “Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held discussions on Wednesday, 5/29/2024, with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of People's Republic of China, on the sidelines of the tenth session of the ministerial meeting of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum, currently held in Beijing.
 
The statement added: "During the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi renewed his welcome of accepting the invitation to visit Iraq, he also welcomed the holding of the joint Iraqi-Chinese committee meeting scheduled to be held in Baghdad."
 
Wang Yi said, "Iraq is one of the first Arab countries to establish diplomatic relations with China, and it is an old friend and good friend of China in recent years, the Iraqi government has achieved remarkable results in actively managing governance, maintaining social stability, advancing economic reform, and improving public services." 
 
He added, "China strongly supports Iraq in maintaining the country's sovereignty, security, unity and territorial integrity, supports the Iraqi government in developing its economy, improving the people's livelihood and combating terrorism, and opposes the interference of external forces in internal affairs."
 
 
He pointed out that "China appreciates its long-term firm support for China on issues involving China's core interests, and is ready to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Iraqi side in jointly defending the basic rules of international law such as the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and defending national interests common to developing countries.
 
Wang Yi stressed, "China is Iraq's largest trading partner and the largest importer of crude oil, and the two sides must actively link the "Belt and Road" plan and the "Development Road" plan for Iraq, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, energy and transportation, and assist Iraq's economic and social development. ".
 
He expressed his hope that "the Iraqi side will continue to provide strong security guarantees to Chinese institutions and individuals in Iraq," stressing that "China is ready with the Iraqi side to use the ministerial meeting of the forum as an opportunity to promote new progress in Chinese-Iraqi and Chinese-Arab relations."
 
For his part, Fouad Hussein pointed out that "the traditional friendship between Iraq and China is deep and has broad common interests," pointing out that "developing relations with China is a diplomatic priority for the Iraqi government."
 
Hussein added, "The Development Road plan and the Belt and Road Initiative reinforce each other, and the Iraqi side is ready to strengthen ties and stimulate cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, energy and other fields, which raises the strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level."
 
He pointed out that "Iraq actively participated in building the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum, and is ready to continue implementing the results of the forum and expand the scope of collective Arab-Chinese cooperation."
 
The statement continued: "The meeting also discussed many bilateral issues of common interest between the two countries, including political, economic and military."
 
Hussein pointed out, "China has a large number of companies operating in various fields in Iraq to advance the Iraqi economic reality."
 
Fouad Hussein touched on "the development project launched by the Iraqi government, which links Iraq from the port of Al-Faw to Turkey and Europe in the north, and the possibility of aligning this strategic project with the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which Iraq joined in 2015."
 
He stressed "the Iraqi government's efforts to diversify the sources of the economy in the fields of agriculture and religious tourism," calling on Chinese companies to "invest in the field of alternative energy and gas."
 
He pointed out that "Iraq will play an important role in investing in associated gas."
 
The two parties discussed "banking and financial cooperation between the two countries, as well as China's support for Iraq to obtain financial financing for investment in infrastructure projects from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, especially in development road projects."
 
The two sides appreciated "the diplomatic efforts in opening the Iraqi Consulate General in Guangzhou and the Chinese Consulate in Basra, as well as welcoming the opening of the Beijing-Baghdad line of Iraqi Airlines."
 
Hussein stressed "continuous cooperation between the two countries in the field of mutual support for international positions," pointing to "Iraq's important role in improving relations in the countries of the region, especially in bringing the views of Saudi Arabia and Iran closer together."
 
He appreciated "Chinese efforts on all pivotal issues, including the Palestinian issue and its decisions."