SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday China attaches great importance to developing relations with Iraq.
In a telephone call with Iraqi President Barham Salih, Xi said China was willing to continue to support Iraq’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic, according to Xinhua news agency.
Iraq “is one of the first Arab countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and also an importance partner of China and Road cooperation in West Asia and North Africa,” Xinhua cited Xi as saying.
The Chinese president further said his country had actively participated in Iraq’s economic reconstruction, Xinhua reported.
He stressed that China “firmly supports Iraq’s efforts to defend its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, fight against terrorism and safeguard its national security and stability.
Xi said his country also “supports the Iraqi people independently choosing a development path in line with Iraq’s national conditions, and opposes any external interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.”
The Iraqi president, for his part, said Iraq was ready to work with China to intensify strategic communication, address the precipitous changes in international and regional circumstances, fight against terrorism, and safeguard regional and global peace and stability, the Chinese news agency reported.
