Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (1st R) meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during the ministerial meeting of the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) in the Egyptian Red Sea resort Sharm El-Sheikh, May 3, 2007. The ICI meeting kicked off on Thursday with the attendance of representatives from some 60 nations and 12 regional and international organizations. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang) Photo Gallery>>>

    SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China hoped Iraq could achieve stability and development as soon as possible, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi here Friday.

    Yang met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari at this Red Sea resort on the sidelines of an international conference on Iraq, according to a press release of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

    According to the release, Yang told Maliki and Zebari that China supported efforts to safeguard Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) meets with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari during the ministerial meeting of the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) in the Egyptian Red Sea resort Sharm El-Sheikh, May 3, 2007. The ICI meeting kicked off on Thursday with the attendance of representatives from some 60 nations and 12 regional and international organizations. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang) Photo Gallery>>>

    China would continue playing a constructive role in Iraq's reconstruction and provide assistance within its ability to Iraq, said Yang.

    He said the Chinese side was ready to expand bilateral exchange and cooperation with Iraq in the fields of trade, energy, infrastructure and culture with a view of pushing ahead with bilateral relations faster.

    Maliki said the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people appreciated China's stance on safeguarding the Iraqis' interest and China's supporting Iraqi reconstruction with grant and debt reduction and forgiveness.

    Maliki said Iraq attached importance to the development of Iraqi-Chinese relations, and firmly uphold the one-China policy.

    There was high potential regarding cooperation between the two nations, said Maliki, adding that Iraq welcomed the participation in Iraq's reconstruction project by more Chinese companies.

    The two-day conference, ended on Friday afternoon, included two meeting -- one on Iraq's reconstruction and the other on Iraq's security.

    The conference gathered senior diplomats from Iraq's six neighbors -- Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- plus Bahrain, Egypt, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the UN and the EU.

    Also attending were senior diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, China and France -- and members of the G-8, including Germany, Canada, Japan and Italy.