On the afternoon of July 19, 2011, President Hu Jintao met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki at the Great Hall of the People.

Hu said China-Iraq relations enjoy a profound foundation and both peoples share long-standing friendship. He said bilateral ties have entered a new stage since the founding of the new Iraqi government with cooperation in all areas developing smoothly. "China will work with the Iraqi side to steadily promote exchange and cooperation in the political, economic and humanities fields, and enhance communication and coordination on international and regional affairs in a bid to open up a new prospect for China-Iraq friendly cooperation," said Hu.

Hu said there is huge potential and great prospect for bilateral pragmatic cooperation. He said the two sides should bolster cooperation in two-way trade, deepen energy cooperation particularly in oil and gas sector and expand cooperation in infrastructure construction and other major projects in a positive, pragmatic, mutually beneficial and win-win spirit so as to push for pragmatic cooperation in a broad and in-depth manner. "China will, as always, support the new Iraqi government's efforts in safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in promoting national reconstruction and long-term peace and stability," he said.

Maliki said the two countries and their peoples share a long history of exchanges. The Iraqi government is committed to promoting economic growth and national unity and hopes to learn from China's development experience. The Iraqi side is ready to take China as an important partner, and further enhance pragmatic cooperation in politics, economy, trade, energy, infrastructure, science and technology and culture as well as coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. He welcomed Chinese businesses to invest in Iraq and reaffirmed his country's adherence to the one-China policy.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other officials attended the meeting.