China ready to provide training in oil, other fields

By Haqi Ismael

Azzaman, January 21, 2006

China is keen to train Iraqi personnel working in the oil sector and other fields, a foreign ministry statement said.

The statement, faxed to the newspaper, said the Chinese were willing to provide training in the spheres of telecommunications, power generation and diplomacy as well as oil.

The pledge to provide the training came following a meeting between Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zaibari and the Chinese envoy in Baghdad.

“The (Chinese) ambassador has expressed his government’s willingness to develop relations with Iraq … and provide the country with assistance in the training of Iraqi cadres,” the statement said.

It said initially China would provide training for 80 Iraqi oil personnel “and donate X-ray machines” to help the country control its borders and combat violence.

“China is keen to do whatever it takes to press ahead with the Iraqi reconstruction,” the statement quoted the envoy as saying.