China on Friday formally reopened its embassy in Iraq, after
more than four months of preparations for this move, a senior
Chinese diplomat in Baghdad said.
Sun Bigan, currently head of the Chinese mission team in
Baghdad, told Xinhua that China's decision to reopen its embassy
here showed that the Chinese government attaches great importance
to China-Iraq relations.
"The move also showed the support of the Chinese government for
the Iraqi interim government," he said, adding that he sees a
bright future for the cooperation between the two countries in all
aspects.
An Iraqi foreign ministry source said that Iraq will take steps
to guarantee safety of the Chinese diplomatic officials, and
welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in Iraq's
reconstruction.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Thursday talked by phone
with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiar al-Zibari, saying China
supports the Iraqi interim government and will further bilateral
friendly cooperation in line with mutual respect, mutual benefit
and equality.
The Chinese foreign minister also said that China hopes Iraqi's
interim government, with the help of the international community,
can stabilize its security situation at an early date and push
forward its reconstruction in a comprehensive way.
China withdrew its diplomats just days before the breaking out
of the US-led war on Iraq last March. During last summer a small
group of Chinese diplomats came back to Baghdad only for security
situation assessment.
Later on Feb. 16 of this year, a Chinese mission team returned
back to Baghdad to make preparations for the reopening of the
embassy. During the over four months of their stay they have made
wide contacts with the Iraqi and coalition authorities.
On April 11 seven Chinese workers were abducted by armed men in
central Iraq, but they were released and handed over to Chinese
diplomats here after 25 hours.
(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2004)