Finance Ministry urges China to write off Iraqi debt

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Ministry of Finance has called on the Chinese government to cancel the Iraqi debt, totaling $8.5 billion U.S. dollars, according to a ministry statement. “Finance Minister Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi has expressed his hope that the Chinese government would follow the example of the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus and forgive 100 percent of the Iraqi debt,” read the statement that was received by Iraqi News. This came during a meeting between the minister and the Chinese government in Baghdad, The minister highlighted the Chinese role in Iraq’s reconstruction process, the statement added. SS (P)/SR 1