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Iraqi president visiting China, the
Chinese promises to cut Iraqi debt
21.6.2007
Rewritten by eKurd.net
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Talabani
can't thank China for Iraq's liberation.
China promises to cut Iraqi debt
June
21, 2007
Beijing, -- China on Thursday -- China
promised Thursday to wipe off some of the eight
billion dollars owed to it by Iraq, as Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani held landmark talks with
his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Beijing.
"We would like to reduce the debt by a large
margin," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang
told reporters.
Qin refused to put a figure on any debt reduction,
referring only to a 50 million yuan (6.6 million
dollars) cancellation that China announced in May
and saying that it wanted to further help the
war-torn country.
"China has all along supported and participated in
the reconstruction process of Iraq, we have made
constructive efforts including providing aid," Qin
told reporters.
"We are ready to participate in the reconstruction
of Iraq, we hope Iraq can realise security,
stability and development at an early date."
Talabani said before his trip -- the first visit to
China by an Iraqi head of state since the two
countries established diplomatic ties in 1958 --
that he wanted to get as much of the
eight-billion-dollar debt cancelled as possible.
Talabani told Hu in Beijing that he welcomed China's
friendship and saw its development as an inspiration
for the war-torn country.
"We are happy to see China's great development in
all areas over the last 50 years," he told
reporters, during a brief appearance with both men's
wives in front of the Great Hall of the People.
"In Iraq we look on the achievements of China as an
achievement for people seeking freedom and
independence throughout the world."
Hu said Talabani's trip showed the commitment of
Iraq to improving ties between the two nations.
"Your visit here shows that the new Iraqi government
wants to develop China-Iraqi friendship. I hope we
can develop our relationship and the questions that
interest both our countries," Hu said.
A delegation representing seven Iraqi ministries,
including finance, interior and oil, is accompanying
Talabani. |
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, left, walks with
Chinese President Hu Jintao during a welcome
ceremony in Beijing's Tiananmen Square Thursday June
21, 2007 Talabani arrived Wednesday. AP
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, left, walks with
Chinese President Hu Jintao during a welcome
ceremony in Beijing's Tiananmen Square Thursday June
21, 2007. Talabani arrived Wednesday. AP |
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They will also visit
northern China's ancient city of Xian and Nanjing,
the capital of eastern Jiangsu province.
China wants to resurrect oil supply agreements
signed with the previous regime of executed Iraqi
dictator Saddam Hussein and develop an oil field in
southeast Iraq.
Beijing loaned the roughly eight billion dollars to
Iraq when it was ruled by the ex-dictator.
Before arriving in Beijing, Talabani told
journalists that he wanted to convince China to
cancel $8bn of Iraqi debt.
"This visit will also involve the signing of
agreements in the economic and cultural fields," he
said.
China's foreign ministry has previously said that
education and health co-operation deals would also
be signed.
That seems to be the message so far in China's state
media surrounding a visit this week by Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani.
Coverage has steered well clear of the violent
conflict wracking his nation, instead highlighting
the potential for Chinese investment in Iraqi oil,
cultural exchanges and trade.
The official Xinhua News Agency even made careful
reference to Talabani's endorsement of Beijing' view
that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, an issue
utterly removed from Iraq's desperate need for
internal stability.
"As an old friend of the Chinese people, I hope that
during my presidential tenure I can do my part to
promote bilateral relations, which is the goal of my
visit as well as a big wish in my life," Xinhua
quoted Talabani as saying in an interview conducted
ahead of the visit, which formally began on
Thursday.
Talabani was to meet with Chinese President Hu
Jintao later on Thursday, but it wasn't clear if the
two would discuss the Iraq conflict.
In one passing reference to the violence, Xinhua did
cite Talabani saying Iraq's government was making
"great efforts to restore security and stability in
order to attract foreign investment," but offered no
specifics.
The decision to avoid war references may reflect
China's ambivalent attitude toward the U.S.-led 2003
liberation of Iraq.
China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the
United Nations Security Council, opposed the
'invasion'-liberation, but far less strongly than
Russia and France, and has taken little role in
post-war reconstruction efforts.
The China Daily newspaper also sidestepped
references to the war, focusing on the potential
revival of a 1997 deal for the China National
Petroleum Corp. to develop the billion-barrel al-Ahdab
field. The US$1.2 billion contract had been signed
between the company, also known as PetroChina, and
former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Despite the lack of mention of the war in the
articles about Talabani, Xinhua and other state
media routinely report the conflict, and Xinhua has
correspondents based in Baghdad.
AP | Reuters | Agencies
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