On January 22, 2008, Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo met with visiting Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi in the Chinese foreign ministry.

Dai said that China firmly supports Iraq's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and economic reconstruction and hopes Iraq realizes stability and development at the earliest date possible, plays a positive role of promoting regional peace and stability and explores the development path in compliance with its own national conditions. China attaches importance to and expects to further advance the friendly and cooperative relations with Iraq. Abbawi expressed admiration and gratitude to China for its stance on the Iraqi issue and indicated hope to enhance the bilateral political contacts, conduct mutually beneficial cooperation and learn from China's development experience.

Dai thanked the Iraqi side for its adherence to the one-China policy and expressed hope that Iraq would continue to support China's reunification undertaking. Abbawi reiterated Iraq's resolute pursuit of the one-China policy and firm opposition to Taiwan's "referendum on joining the United Nations".

Both sides also exchanged opinions on the Iraqi situation.