On August 25, 1958, the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Iraq established diplomatic relations. On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and highest respect to all those who have devoted themselves to strengthening China-Iraq friendship.

Chinese and Iraqi workers work at the construction site of a school being built by the Power Construction Corporation of China in Baghdad Province, Iraq, April 9, 2023. [Photo by Khalil Dawood/Xinhua]

The past 65 years have seen a continuous deepening of the political mutual trust between the two countries. Iraq was one of the first Arab countries to establish diplomatic ties with the PRC, and the two countries have always enjoyed excellent mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support. In 1971 when the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution to restore the legitimate seat of the PRC in the U.N., Iraq voted in favor. In July 2004, China reopened its embassy in Iraq. In October of the same year, the two countries dispatched ambassadors to each other. In December 2014, China opened its consulate general in Erbil. In December 2015, China and Iraq issued a joint statement announcing the establishment of a strategic partnership, signaling a new chapter in China-Iraq friendship. In December 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Sabbar al-Sudani while attending the first China–Arab States Summit in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The two heads of state reached important consensus on deepening friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields, setting the direction and injecting strong momentum into bilateral relations.