2024-01-18T12:35:08+00:00
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/ The Chinese government intends to hold a special conference on the Iraqi Development Road Project, according to what its ambassador to Baghdad, Cui Wei, announced.
This came during his meeting with Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi, today at the ministry building, to discuss ways of joint cooperation between the two countries.
The minister said in a statement by the ministry’s media office, “We look forward to strengthening the partnership with China, which represents a friendly country to Iraq, both government and people. We also believe in the scientific and technological progress that Beijing possesses, and we wish to benefit from Chinese experiences in various fields of transportation.”
Al-Sadaawi stressed that the ministry’s doors are open to all solid Chinese companies to benefit from investment opportunities in railway and port projects, in addition to the development path.
The statement indicated that the two sides agreed during the meeting to hold a meeting between the relevant Iraqi and Chinese authorities to prepare an accurate study that includes identifying all technical aspects related to the development path.
In turn, the ambassador revealed his country’s government’s desire to participate in the project, after reviewing all its details and economic feasibility.
He pointed out that the embassy had previously sent its economic advisor to the Iraqi General Railway Company to learn about the details of the project, as the Beijing government has a serious desire to participate in the project.
The ambassador revealed his country’s government’s intention to hold a conference on the development road, and to officially authorize the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission to communicate with the Iraqi Ministry of Transport regarding the project.
He said that Beijing’s participation in the development path will have a positive impact on the Iraqi side, indicating that the People’s Republic of China wants its relationship with Iraq to be more effective.
The Chinese Ambassador invited the Minister of Transport to visit Beijing to enhance joint cooperation between the two countries in the fields of transportation.
It is noteworthy that many Arab, regional and European countries have expressed their readiness to participate in the Iraqi Development Road project at the level of construction and investment, as it constitutes an important link between the continents of Asia and Europe.
The development road project is estimated to be worth $17 billion to link the “Grand Faw Port” for goods on the southern Iraqi coast to the border with Turkey via a railway and road network.
The development road aims to link the oil-rich port of Faw in southern Iraq to Turkey, turning the country into a transit hub that will shorten travel time between Asia and Europe in an attempt to compete with the Suez Canal.
The Iraqi government envisions high-speed trains carrying goods and passengers at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, in addition to extending lines to local industrial and energy centers, which could include oil and gas pipelines.
According to the plans, the main transport routes will be linked to the main port of Al-Faw on the shores of the Gulf through the modernization and construction of more than 1.2 thousand kilometers of railways and highways linking Iraq with neighboring countries.