Iraq welcomes Chinese help in reconstruction

BEIJING - Iraq is keen to see China play a bigger role in the reconstruction of the war-torn country, the country's top envoy to Beijing has said.

"After 2003, China has supported us very much and reduced Iraqi debts by 80 percent, which is greatly appreciated," Iraqi Ambassador Mohammad Sabir Ismail told China Daily in an interview last Friday, referring to a $6.8-billion debt cut announced by China last month.

Ismail also rolled out the red carpet for Chinese companies, some of which, namely in the energy and retail sectors, were already operating in Iraq.