China seeks to deepen “strategic” relations with Iraq: Chinese president

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Masum on Saturday that his country is willing to deepen bilateral “strategic partnership” with Iraq, adding that both countries shall carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, as reported by Chinese state media.

 

“The Chinese president said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Iraq relations, adding that the two sides should synergize development strategies under the framework of jointly building the Belt and Road, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples,” reported CGTN news agency on Saturday.

  

August 25 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of first formal relations between both countries in 1958, nearly one month after Iraq’s monarchy was replaced by a republican system under General Abdul-Karim Qassim.

  

In response to Xi’s message, Iraqi President Masum said that their relations with China has achieved a remarkable development in recent years and added that Baghdad is willing to promote security, peace and development of both countries, according to the Chinese state media.

  

Xi also contacted Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to mark the decades-long Baghdad-Beijing relations.

 

China is one of Iraq’s major trade partners with an embassy in Baghdad and a consulate general in Erbil.