Iraq Calls for Expanded Chinese Investment and Seeks to Make China a Manufacturing Partner

Baghdad: According to Raaz News | The head of the Iraqi-Chinese Friendship Association stressed the need to strengthen economic, investment and development ties between Baghdad and Beijing.

Haider al-Rubaie, head of the Iraqi-Chinese Friendship Association and leader of the Iraqi delegation attending the fifth conference of the Communist Party of China’s dialogue with political parties from Arab countries, called on Chinese companies to expand their presence in the Iraqi market.

Speaking on Saturday at the conference, held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, al-Rubaie said dialogue between Arab political parties and the Communist Party of China serves as a fundamental pillar for strengthening mutual understanding and expanding cooperation amid growing regional and international challenges.

Pointing to Iraq’s economic potential, including its extensive natural resources and strategic geographical location, he described the Development Road project as an important opportunity to connect the Grand Faw Port to road and rail networks extending to Europe. He said the project could create new routes for transporting goods, reduce international shipping costs and transit times, and strengthen Iraq’s position as a major economic and logistics hub in the region.

Al-Rubaie stressed that Iraq offers a favorable environment for investment by Chinese companies, saying Baghdad’s current focus on infrastructure development and economic diversification has created extensive opportunities for their activities. He also noted that the image of Iraq presented by some media outlets does not necessarily reflect the actual investment opportunities available in the country.

He urged Chinese companies to expand their operations in the Iraqi market and contribute to the construction of factories and manufacturing projects, the transfer of industrial technology, and the creation of employment opportunities for young people. He also emphasized the need to facilitate the entry of the private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, into the Iraqi market.

He listed the areas of economic cooperation and investment between the two countries as road construction, development projects, the construction of Faw Port, industrial cities and free zones, the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, automobile manufacturing and machinery production, agriculture and water resources, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, housing and smart infrastructure, education and the construction of model schools, entrepreneurship, small businesses, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

The head of the Iraqi-Chinese Friendship Association further emphasized that Baghdad’s goal is not merely to increase the volume of trade with Beijing. Rather, Iraq seeks to move beyond importing Chinese products and toward manufacturing them domestically. He said this approach could pave the way for a sustainable partnership in manufacturing and investment and strengthen Iraq’s industrial capacity.

In another part of his speech, al-Rubaie highlighted the cultural and human dimensions of relations between the two countries, saying that ties between nations are not built solely on trade and economic relations, but also depend on the exchange of knowledge, civilizational interaction, and mutual understanding between their peoples.

Referring to the Iraqi-Chinese Friendship Association’s activities to promote Chinese culture and teach the Chinese language, he announced the establishment of a specialized Chinese language training center and the launch of a testing and education center in Iraq. He said the association had also sought to strengthen friendship and mutual respect between the two peoples by displaying congratulatory messages marking China's national occasions, in the colors of the Chinese flag, on digital screens and billboards in the streets of Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.

He added that in 2024, the association had also organized an introductory visit to several Chinese cities for an Iraqi delegation to promote closer contacts and familiarize its members with China's experience in development and progress.

Al-Rubaie concluded by referring to the thousands of years of historical and civilizational heritage shared by Iraq and China, expressing hope that these longstanding ties would become the foundation for a strategic partnership in the economic, cultural, educational and development sectors, opening new horizons for cooperation between the two countries.