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Hoshyar Zebari in China. Premier Calls for
Greater UN Role in Iraq
25.12.2004
Xinhua News
Agency
The Chinese Government
and its people fully understand the Iraqi people's
desire for early restoration of peace and are ready to
make a contribution to the reconstruction of Iraq,
says Premier Wen Jiabao.
He was talking to the visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister
Hoshyar Zebari who called on him on Friday during a
four-day visit, which started on Thursday.
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Photo by Xinhua News
Agency |
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Wen said it is necessary to respect Iraqi
independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He stressed the right of the Iraqi people to freely
determine their own future and called for a greater
role for the United Nations.
Wen also urged the international community to take
an active part in the rehabilitation of Iraq.
He said the coming election, which is scheduled for
January 30, is an important step in the Iraqis'
political process and he welcomes the establishment
of a broad-based and fully representative
government.
Wen stressed that China has attached great
importance to Sino-Iraqi relations and has already
pledged US$25 million towards rebuilding efforts.
He said China will continue to give support to the
Iraqi people.
The Iraqi foreign minister apprised Premier Wen
Jiabao of the current situation in Iraq and said he
admires China's fair stance towards his country.
He said Iraq and China have traditionally a good
relationship and Iraq will stick to the one-China
policy.
He said Iraq is very appreciative of China's
assistance to the Iraqi people in political,
material and humanitarian areas.
The foreign minister said he is ready to provide an
equal opportunity for Chinese enterprises and
business people in the construction of Iraq to boost
the collaboration between the two countries.
Zebari, the highest-ranking representative of the
interim Iraqi government to visit China since it was
established in June also held talks with his
counterpart Li Zhaoxing on the same day.
Li stressed that China is willing to shore up
friendly co-operation between the two countries on
the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual
benefit.
Zebari met with Chinese businessmen in Beijing on
Thursday, urging Chinese companies to explore
business opportunities in his country.
He told the entrepreneurs that Iraq was "desperate"
for all kinds of products and needed to build
infrastructure in areas ranging from transportation
to communication, water resources and education.
The Iraqi people would like to co-operate with all
companies from peace-loving nations, especially
China, he said.
However, he admitted that Iraq is experiencing its
"roughest period in history" and said that without a
safe and secure environment, the prospects for the
economy to recover are pessimistic.
He also encouraged foreign companies to set up
branch offices in the major cities in south and
north Iraq, saying that they should be able to
expand their business presence through the whole
country when the situation is stabilized.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2004
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