BAGHDAD, June 18 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of a historic visit to China, Iraq's President Jalal Talabani told Xinhua that the Iraqi-Sino cooperation was blessed with a bright future, expressing hopes that China would continue playing its positive role in Iraq's political process.

    FIRST IRAQI PRESIDENT TO VISIT CHINA SINCE 1958 "It's my honor to be the first Iraqi president to visit China since the establishment of the diplomatic ties between Iraq and China 49 years ago," Talabani told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview in his residence in the Iraqi capital.

    "I am looking forward to the visit and hope it will open a new phase of the bilateral relations between the two countries,"Talabani said.

    On June 14, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that Talabani would pay a state visit to China from June 20 to 26 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. During his China tour, Talabani will hold talks with Hu, and meet with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Chinese PremierWen Jiabao, respectively, said the spokesman.

    The two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, said Qin, adding the two sides will sign agreements on the cooperation between the two foreign ministries and on cooperation in such fields as education and health.

    Besides Beijing, the Iraqi president will also visit northwest China's ancient city of Xi'an and Nanjing, capital of eastern Jiangsu Province, said the spokesman.

    Talabani said he hoped that his historic visit would strengthen the exchange and cooperation between Iraq and China in all fields, such as politics, economy, culture and oil industry."As an old friend of the Chinese people, I hope that during my presidential tenure I can do my part to promote bilateral relations, which is the goal of my visit as well as a big wish in my life," he said.

    Talabani, born in 1933, became a member of the Iraqi Governing Council on July 13, 2003, and elected as the rotating president of the council in November of 2003.

    In April 2005, he was elected as the Iraqi president, becoming the first Kurdish president in the Iraqi history.

    HOPING CHINA WOULD CONTINUE PLAYING POSITIVE ROLET alabani said that Iraq and China, both with ancient civilizations, have a long friendship, and China has been given much assistance to Iraq in different periods and under different circumstances.

    Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1958, under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, cooperation between Iraq and China enjoyed smooth development invarious fields, said the president.

    "The Iraqis are deeply impressed by the warm-heartedness and friendliness of the Chinese people as well as their positive and wise working style," he said, expressing hopes that China would continue to play its positive role in Iraq's political process. On the Taiwan question, Iraq firmly abides by the one-China policy, he asserted.

    Talabani said the Iraqi government was making great efforts to restore security and stability in order to attract foreign investment, and he hoped that Chinese companies could take these opportunities to play a bigger role in Iraq's reconstruction process.

    Talking about his hometown of the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, Talabani said the region was prosperous and booming after many years of development.

    Chinese companies and businessmen have played a positive role in the development of the Kurdish region, and they have implemented projects in the fields of telecom, highway, construction and oil and have made some achievements, said he. Talabani also encouraged more Chinese companies to invest in the Kurdish region and gradually expanded their business to other areas in Iraq.

    by Xinhua correspondents Zhang Wei, Yan Junyan