BEIJING (AFP) – China Thursday signed an agreement to cancel Iraqi debt at a ceremony after a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani.
Chinese Trade Minister Bo Xilai and three Iraqi ministers signed the agreement to cancel Iraq’s debt towards China.
No detail was however provided on this agreement or how much debt would be cancelled.
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 dollars owed to China cancelled as possible.
The two countries also signed an accord on economic and technological cooperation, television reports said without giving further details.
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 Talibani’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 Talibani.
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.
No detail was however provided on this agreement or how much debt would be cancelled.
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 dollars owed to China cancelled as possible.
The two countries also signed an accord on economic and technological cooperation, television reports said without giving further details.
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 Talibani’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 Talibani.
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.
