Visiting Foreign Minister Hoshiar Al-Zibari of the
Iraqi interim government encouraged Chinese companies to explore
business opportunities in his country's reconstruction during a
meeting with entrepreneurs on Thursday.
Al-Zibari said Iraq is desperate for all kinds of
products and needs to build infrastructure ranging from
transportation, communications networks, energy and water
resources, sanitation and education.
If foreign companies establish branch offices in
the major cities of south and north Iraq, they should be able to
expand their business presence throughout the country after the
situation has stabilized, he said.
Admitting that Iraq is experiencing its "roughest
period in history," Al-Zibari said both the interim government and
the National Assembly, which will be elected in January, have to
juggle maintaining peace and security with building the
economy.
Without a safe and secure environment, the prospect
for the economy to recover is pessimistic, he said.
During his first visit to China, which began on
Wednesday, Al-Zibari said he was impressed by the rapid progress
China has achieved over the past decades.
Al-Zibari also assured that whatever the outcome of
January’s election, the policies of Iraq will remain unchanged, and
the Iraqi foreign ministry is ready to provide any help to boost
collaboration between Chinese and Iraqi businesses.
Al-Zibari said Iraqi post-war reconstruction aims
to build a free market economy and encourages overseas investment
on an equal basis.
He said that initially, core industries will be
under state control but they will gradually be decentralized and
privatized.
For the time being, the Iraqi government is working
hard to have the country's debt relieved and has made positive
advances in its talks with Arab countries and the Paris Club, he
said.
Al-Zibari said Iraq is rebuilding its troops and
police force and gradually regaining sovereignty with the help of
international community. All these difficulties are temporary and
will be solved in time, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2004)