At the invitation of the Iraqi government, State Councilor Ismail Amat and his accompanying delegation visited Iraq from December 22 to 24. During his visit, Amat met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, and other Iraqi leaders respectively. They exchanged views on further developing China-Iraq friendly relations and cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern. Amat forwarded a letter from Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Saddam Hussein and conveyed cordial greetings and good wishes from Chinese leaders to Iraqi officials. He also wishes the Iraqi people a happy Id al Fitr. Amat visited a children’s hospital and had a field inspection of the sufferings of the Iraqi people resulted from the long-term sanction and the great damages the war has brought to Iraq.

Amat said that he would like to express his festival greetings to the Iraqi people as he arrived in the country on the eve of Id al Fitr. He spoke highly of the friendly relations between the two old civilizations that date back to ancient times. He said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iraq, the friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries have been developing constantly. China cherishes the friendly and cooperative relations with Iraq and is willing to expand bilateral cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other fields.

Saddam welcomed the delegation of the Chinese government led by Amat and asked him to convey his cordial greetings and good wishes to President Jiang Zemin.

Saddam agreed with Amat’s assessment of bilateral relations. He said that China has always been Iraq’s friend and a friend of the Arab world. The Iraqi government attaches great importance to strengthening relations with China. As early as in the 60’s, the Iraqi government made the decision to develop friendly relations and cooperation with China and will stick to it in the future. Iraq is rich in natural resources and there are broad prospects for bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Amat reiterated the consistent position of the Chinese government on the Iraq issue. He said that China has been greatly concerned with the Iraq issue. The sanctions have brought sufferings to the Iraqi people and severely blocked economic development. As a sincere friend of the Iraqi people, we are greatly sympathetic and ready to work for an early settlement of the Iraq issue. Amat wished the Iraq people new achievements on their road to national reconstruction.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and Assistant Minister He Xiaowei of Moftec, who were among the entourage of Amat, held talks with their Iraqi counterparts. Vice Minister Wang Longde of the Ministry of Health, Vice Chairman Shen Shuji of All-China Women’s Federation, Vice Chairman Xu Xicheng of All-China Trade Union, and Deputy Director Wang Lizhong of China’s Red Cross Association also met with their respective counterparts. They donated some humanitarian aid and expressed the deepest sympathy of the Chinese people to the Iraqi people.

Amat concluded his visit on the night of December 24.