China has actively helped rebuild Iraq's economy through its Belt and Road Initiative, which desperately needs foreign investment in energy infrastructure after the war. PowerChina actively participated in the reconstruction of Iraq's electricity, education and other fields, and provided assistance within its capacity for Iraq's economic and social development. Since China and Iraq signed a cooperation document on jointly building the Belt and Road in 2015, the multi-field cooperation between the two countries has achieved fruitful results.

We are encouraged by the energy of the Chinese workers

Arriving at Najaf, a city in the south of Baghdad, a concrete building under construction is supported by strict and regular scaffolding, and workers are binding steel bars in groups of two. This is a project site of PowerChina Iraqi Model School in Najaf Province.

Decades of conflict and underinvestment have wreaked havoc on Iraq's education system. According to UNICEF, nearly 3.2 million school-age children in Iraq are out of school. Due to the shortage of school buildings, many students can only attend classes in simple board houses or converted containers. Schools in some areas need to divide students into three batches and implement three shifts in the same day.

In 2020, the Iraqi government formulated a plan, deciding to build 8,000 new schools by 2030, and listed them as one of the most urgent political and livelihood projects. A total of 1,000 schools were tendered for the first phase of the project, and Power Construction China undertook the construction of 679 school projects.

After years of war, the level of infrastructure in Iraq is very backward. Du Ruide, the person in charge of the demonstration school project of the Najaf Provincial Department of Education, said: Chinese enterprises have advanced construction technology, which has given us a lot of help. It is the responsibility of our generation to let children go to school. We are grateful for China's strong support. The construction of the school was completed jointly by Chinese workers and Iraqi workers. We are encouraged by the enthusiasm of the Chinese workers, and we also realize more clearly that the Belt and Road cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win.

Hamid Ghazi, Secretary-General of the Iraqi Cabinet, said that the school project will become a demonstration project with high quality standards, modern style and in line with Iraq's practical needs after completion, which is of great significance to improving the teaching conditions in various provinces.

Gao Fei, deputy general manager of the Middle East and North Africa Regional Headquarters of PowerChina, said that the demonstration school project is related to people's livelihood in Iraq and has attracted much attention. Tens of thousands of Chinese and Iraqi workers are fighting on site. China will do its best to fulfill the contract of the project and strive to build high-quality projects to better meet the education needs of the Iraqi people and contribute to the local economic and social development.

Najaf will build 40 model schools. Project manager Yang Haibin said: The design of the school is very advanced, and it will be equipped with modern educational facilities in the future. According to the requirements, the schools will be delivered successively starting from the fourth quarter of this year. We are confident that the project will be completed on schedule with high standards.

Looking forward to more Chinese enterprises coming to invest and participate in cooperation

In Baghdad, there will always be power outages during the peak power consumption period in the evening every day. Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani said: Iraq is improving the investment environment and hopes to strengthen cooperation with all parties on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win results. Ma'ad Mezir, a member of the Iraqi National Assembly, said that post-war reconstruction in Iraq is in jeopardy. Improving power infrastructure, accelerating economic development, and creating more jobs for young people are the top priorities.

In recent years, Chinese enterprises have actively participated in Iraqi power construction. In 2014, the Huashide Power Plant project undertaken by Hubei Engineering Company, a subsidiary of Power China, was put into operation to generate electricity, effectively improving the power supply in Baghdad and surrounding areas. In 2021, the Rumaila 730 MW combined-cycle power plant undertaken by PowerChina Nuclear Power Company and Hubei Engineering Company will be connected to the grid for power generation, easing the power shortage in southern Iraq. According to reports, the power plant built by China is responsible for half of Iraq's electricity supply.

In front of the Save Iraqi Culture Monument in Baghdad, a number of graduating college students take graduation photos. Abdullah, an engineering student at the University of Baghdad, said: He grew up with wars and turmoil. Now, we must do our best to build our own country. China has advanced technology and experience, and we very much hope to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China.

During the interview, Du Ruide deliberately dialed his father's phone number. It turned out that as early as the 1980s, his father participated in the Euphrates River Dam Project undertaken by a Chinese company. Durand said that the friendly cooperation between Iran and China has a solid foundation. We look forward to more Chinese companies investing and participating in cooperation, so as to bring more tangible benefits to the people of both sides.

Hassan Ali Moussa, a former adviser to the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, said that the reconstruction of Iraq needs to vigorously promote infrastructure construction. Agricultural irrigation, schools, airports, etc. are closely related to people's livelihood. The joint construction of the Belt and Road has responded to the needs of the Iraqi people.Editor/Ma Xue