Talabani visit a 'success'

By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-06-26 06:56

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has said his six-day visit to China is a success because it has consolidated the two countries' friendship and boosted their mutually beneficial cooperation.

Talabani is scheduled to return home today after paying the first visit by an Iraqi president since the two countries established diplomatic ties 49 years ago. He visited the ancient capital of Xi'an and Nanjing after spending two days in Beijing meeting with China's top leaders.

The Iraqi ambassador to China, Mohammad Sabir Ismail, has quoted Talabani as saying the trip has been "very successful". Urging China to forgive Iraq's debts was the biggest objective of Talabani's visit, and that has been achieved, Ismail said.

Moreover, the Chinese government will ask its companies to reduce the rest of the $8-billion debt.

The ambassador said the first agreement was signed on Thursday, and the second on Saturday after very "constructive talks" between Talabani and President Hu Jintao.

"We sincerely thank China and its people for the assistance," the ambassador quoted Talabani as saying. The Iraqi president is exploring bilateral cooperation in new areas and believes it will be bolstered.

Besides the cooperation in the energy sector, "we want to work with China in a wide range of fields, including infrastructure construction and hi-tech", Ismail said.

The ancient culture of China, especially the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses of the Qin Dynasty, has left a lasting impression on the president of Iraq, which itself is a land of ancient civilization and culture, Ismail said.

"We also visited some companies and are thinking of importing some equipment from Shaanxi for Iraq's reconstruction," he said.



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