A picture obtained from a senior coalition official shows a security officer checking the remains of two armed drones at the site where the US-led coalition against the Islamic State IS group in Iraq said it shot down two drones targeting a compound hosting coalition troops near Baghdad airport early in the morning on January 3, 2022. HANDOUT AFP With its strategic location, as well as ethnic and religious diversity, Iraq should become a propeller of regional cooperation, not an arena for geopolitical competition, Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council meeting on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq UNAMI Dai said China commends Iraq for developing good neighborly and friendly relations with countries in the region and promoting regional integration.
We support Iraq in its joint efforts with Kuwait in achieving progress in the search for missing Kuwaiti nationals and property. He said that China has always stood for the full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Iraq, and has always stood for common security through cooperation.
ALSO READ: President: Iraq to strengthen cooperation with China
At present, Iraq is at a crucial political phase, facing such major tasks as forming the new government. The ambassador said that the parties in Iraq will strengthen unity, settle their differences and, within the constitutional and legal framework, conduct dialogue and consultations in order to reach consensus on next steps of political arrangements, with a view to laying a solid political foundation for lasting peace, development and prosperity.
Dai said that the international community must continue its support to Iraq in eradicating the remnants of terrorism and consolidating the hard-won counter-terrorism results, because Iraq made huge sacrifices in combating Da'esh and recovering the territories that were originally occupied by terrorists and extremist organizations.
Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, speaks at a Security Council meeting on October 19, 2020 at the United Nations. PHOTO CHINA Turning to UNAMI, Dai said that the mission and other UN agencies must allocate more resources to support Iraq's national development priorities.
UNAMI's human rights-related and humanitarian work must strictly follow the mandate, closely communicate and coordinate with the Iraqi government, and improve screening and verification of information, said the envoy.