Ambassador of Iraq to China Ahmad Berwari Visits the ICC

On 3 December 2025, Ambassador of Iraq to China Ahmad Belwari, visited the Jianguomen Office of the International Cooperation Center (ICC). Zhang Chongqing, Member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the ICC and Honorary President of the China Group Companies Association (CGCA); Zhang Yu, Convener of the Joint Meeting of and Director of the Steering Committee of the ICC, met with the Ambassador, who had recently assumed his post in China. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern, including the situation in the Middle East and China-Iraq strategic partnership, the implementation of the "Track 1.5" high-level long-term consultation mechanism between the ICC and the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strengthening communication and coordination under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Belt and Road Initiative, finally deepening exchanges and cooperation in development and revitalization between China and Iraq. Both reached important consensus.

Zhang Chongqing (Right) and Ahmad Belwari (Left)

The two sides noted that the world today is undergoing a period of accelerating evolution for profound changes unseen in a century, with the international situation presenting a complex landscape where opportunities and challenges intertwine, and turbulence and transformation coexist, posing severe challenges to multilateralism and international cooperation. In recent years, China-Arab relations have flourished, with both China and Arab countries consistently viewing their relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Iraq strategic partnership and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the “Belt and Road” cooperation documents between China and Iraq. Iraq has assumed the presidency of the “Group of 77 and China” and the “League of Arab States” (LAS) this year. The “Group of 77 and China” and the Arab countries should join hands to promote regional peace, uphold fairness and justice, amplify the voice of the Global South, shoulder responsibilities for the future of humanity, and contribute to the common development of all nations. In current and future cooperation within the Global South, countries like Iraq in the Middle East will play an important role in maintaining global strategic stability, safeguarding regional and global security, and advancing global development cooperation.

Meeting for exchanging

The two sides also discussed other important matters. Prior to the talks, they reviewed and discussed the outcomes of the meeting in April this year, when Hisham Ali Akbar Ibrahim Alalawi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iraq, led a delegation of 15 counselors from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit the ICC, reaching consensus with the ICC and the School of International Studies, as well as the School of Global and Area Studies, Renmin University of China (RUC). Both sides expressed their commitment to accelerating the implementation of these outcomes. 

Also attending the meeting were Zhu Hongshan, Economic Affairs Advisor and Expert Representative of the ICC; Cheng Yu, Executive Secretary-General of the ICC; Xin Shaosong, Deputy Director of the Secretariat Office at the ICC; Dr. Bahir Mirdan, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Iraq to China; Wasan Falih Al-Sudany, First Secretary and Yasir A. Dhary, Economic Advisor of the Embassy of Iraq to China.