In a special statement during his participation in the 7th Baghdad International Dialogue, Chinese researcher Yi Qi Zhou emphasized that his current trip marks his first visit to Iraq, describing Baghdad as a “very beautiful city” and expressing strong admiration for the conference and the quality of discussions taking place.
“It has been a special opportunity to join this conference,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from the ongoing discussions, and I believe this event can significantly improve Iraq’s image on the international stage,” noting that such forums offer international participants a rare chance to visit Iraq and witness its reality firsthand.
He added: “In China, researchers rarely get the opportunity to visit Iraq. This experience will certainly deepen my understanding of the country, and when I return, I’ll share it with my colleagues and friends—helping shift their perception of Iraq in a positive way.”
Regarding economic cooperation between Iraq and Asia, Zhou noted that current trade relations between Iraq and China are “very strong,” highlighting the frequent visits of Chinese businesspeople to Iraq—many of whom were even on his flight to Baghdad.
He concluded by saying: “As Iraq continues to enhance stability and create a better investment environment, more Asian countries will show readiness to invest in Iraq and strengthen their commercial ties.”