Chinese Consul General Liu Jun reiterated China’s commitment to strengthening economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) during a press conference on Sunday. His remarks covered China’s economic priorities, bilateral trade, investment potential, and regional stability.
Economic Growth and Bilateral Trade
Consul General Jun began by reviewing China’s annual “Two Sessions”—the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)—which set the country’s economic and policy agenda. He highlighted China’s 5% economic growth rate in 2023, emphasizing its role as the world’s second-largest economy and a driver of global stability.
Focusing on China’s trade relations with Iraq, he noted that bilateral trade reached $54.2 billion in 2023, reflecting a 9% increase. While exact figures for the Kurdistan Region were not provided, he estimated that trade between China and KRI exceeded $5 billion.
“Since 2014, the relations between China and the Kurdistan Region have been on a very fast trajectory,” Consul General Jun stated, emphasizing Kurdistan’s strategic location along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Chinese Investment and Business Expansion in Kurdistan
Consul General Jun noted a growing Chinese business presence in KRI, with 3,000 Chinese nationals currently working in various sectors. He described the region as a “virgin land for Chinese investment,” citing projects by POWERCHINA, which is building large-scale cement and power plants, as well as the establishment of cell phone manufacturing facilities.
Additionally, he announced that Chinese tourist visas would now be available for the first time from the consulate in Erbil, a move aimed at boosting tourism and cultural exchange.
Education and Cultural Initiatives
China is also investing in human resource development in Kurdistan. In 2023, 600 individuals from KRI traveled to China for training programs, a number expected to grow in the coming years. To further enhance cultural and linguistic ties, China is working to establish a Chinese Language Department at Sulaymaniyah University, following a similar initiative at Salahaddin University in Erbil in 2019.
To deepen city-level cooperation, China aims to establish sister-city relationships between Chinese and Kurdish cities, including Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, with an emphasis on their historical significance.
China’s Role in Regional Stability
Consul General Jun reaffirmed China’s commitment to peace in the Middle East, highlighting its mediation efforts between Saudi Arabia and Iran. While stressing China’s policy of non-interference, he expressed readiness to assist in Baghdad-Erbil negotiations if both parties sought Chinese support.
“We hope that peace and stability can be achieved through dialogue and negotiation,” he said.
China’s growing presence in trade, investment, education, and diplomacy in the Kurdistan Region reflects its broader ambition to expand influence in Iraq and the Middle East, positioning itself as a key economic and political partner in the region.
