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.