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 was announced by its ambassador in Baghdad, Cui Wei.
This came during his meeting with the Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, today in the ministry building, to discuss ways of joint cooperation between the two countries.
The minister said in a statement to the ministry’s media office, “We look forward to strengthening the partnership with China, which represents a friendly country to the government and people of Iraq. We also believe in the scientific and technological progress that Beijing possesses, and we want to benefit from Chinese experiences in various fields of transportation.”
Al-Saadawi stressed that the Ministry’s doors are open to all reputable Chinese companies to benefit from investment opportunities in railway and port projects along the development path.
The statement indicated that the two sides agreed during the meeting to hold a meeting between the competent Iraqi and Chinese authorities, to prepare a precise 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 its full details and economic feasibility.
He noted that the embassy had previously sent its economic advisor to the General Company for Iraqi Railways 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 special conference on the path to development, 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 path of development will reflect positively 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 transport.
It is noteworthy that many Arab, regional and European countries have expressed their willingness 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 value of the development road project is estimated at $17 billion to connect the “Great Port of Al-Faw” for goods on the southern Iraqi coast to the border with Turkey by extending a railway and road network.
The development road aims to link the port of Al-Faw in southern Iraq, which is rich in oil, with Turkey, turning the country into a transit center by shortening travel time between Asia and Europe in an attempt to compete with the Suez Canal.
The Iraqi government envisions high-speed trains transporting 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 transportation roads will be linked to the main port of Al-Faw on the shores of the Gulf through modernizing and building more than 1.2 thousand kilometers of railways and highways linking Iraq to neighboring countries.