国内英语新闻:China to play big role in Iraq's reconstruction: Former Iraqi official

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- A former Iraqi official said China would have the chance to play a big role in Iraq's reconstruction when the Middle Eastern country is more stable.

"Although Iraq is still a fragmented country, sooner or later, it will need to rebuild infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, schools, ports, railway lines, and so on," said Samir Sumaida'ie, who served as Iraqi ambassador to the United States from 2006 to 2012, in an interview with Xinhua this week in Beijing.

"China will have the opportunity to play a big role when Iraq is able to welcome foreign contributions," said Sumaida'ie, who is also an "old China hand", having spent a lot of time in the country since 1991.

He said China had always been viewed by the Iraqis as a friendly country that had found its way through difficult times to rebuild itself.

"Countries like Iraq should open their arms to every foreign power that is interested in helping it stabilize and rebuild itself," he said.

Sumaida'ie believed China's proposal to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road would benefit all participating parties.

"Any initiative that connects people is a positive one," he said. "To revitalize ancient connections based on modern needs is of benefit to everybody involved."

Sumaida'ie said the current situation in Iraq is still unstable, with the country's new Shiite Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi busy rallying support from the Kurds and Sunnis, who had felt alienated under his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki.