This Article is From Sep 23, 2019

Iraq Says Willing To Work With China, Will Join "Belt And Road" Project

Beijing is Baghdad's biggest trade partner, while Iraq is China's second biggest oil supplier.

Iraq Says Willing To Work With China, Will Join 'Belt And Road' Project

President Xi Jinping said the two countries would cooperate on oil and infrastructure projects.

Beijing:

Iraq will join China's signature "Belt and Road" infrastructure investment project, the country's prime minister said Monday in Beijing.

Adel Abdel Mahdi made the announcement in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit.

"Iraq has gone through war and civil strife and is grateful to China for its valuable support," said Mahdi, in comments broadcast on Chinese state media outlet CCTV.

"Iraq is willing to work together in the 'One Belt, One Road' framework," he added.

President Xi said that the two countries would cooperate on oil and infrastructure projects.

"China would like, from a new starting point together with Iraq, to push forward the China-Iraq strategic partnership," said President Xi.

Trade last year between China and Iraq was more than $30 billion, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Beijing is Baghdad's biggest trade partner, while Iraq is China's second biggest oil supplier.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a massive global network of ports, railways, roads and industrial parks spanning Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe, which will see trillions invested in new infrastructure.

It has faced criticism for swaddling poor nations with crippling debt and been eyed with suspicion by Washington, which sees it as an attempt by China to grow its influence in the region. 



(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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