On March 12, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein at the latter's request.

Wang Yi said that after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, China was the first to send a team of anti-pandemic experts to Iraq, provided the country with multiple batches of anti-pandemic supplies, assisted it in building a nucleic acid testing laboratory, and dispatched a new batch of COVID-19 vaccines to Iraq recently as the emergency aid. China stands ready to continue to offer support to help Iraqi brothers tide over difficulties at an early date and achieve victory in the fight against the coronavirus.

Wang thanked the Iraqi side for understanding and supporting China's position on China's internal affairs related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, adding that supporting China means upholding non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, which is one of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, as well as supporting the common interests of developing countries. China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Iraq to truly promote the healthy development of the international human rights cause.

Wang Yi said that China is ready to consolidate traditional friendship and deepen political mutual trust with Iraq. Whether during the most severe security situation in Iraq or after the pandemic broke out last year, Chinese companies have always stayed in Iraq, providing necessary guarantees for the national economy, people's livelihood and economic operation of Iraq, which has fully demonstrated China's firm support to Iraq and the great importance it attaches to bilateral relations. In the next stage, the two sides should focus on the post-pandemic era and further discuss and advance cooperation in various fields. China will continue to encourage and support more Chinese enterprises to take an active part in Iraq's reconstruction, and upgrade bilateral cooperation in such areas as electricity, transportation, communications and municipal administration.

Wang Yi said that as a major country in the Middle East, Iraq plays an important role in safeguarding regional peace, stability and development. The Chinese side appreciates Iraq's good relations with its neighboring countries and welcomes Iraq's contribution to regional stability and development. China supports Iraq in resolutely and thoroughly eliminating extremist terrorist forces such as the Islamic State (IS).

Fuad Hussein expressed his gratitude for China's support and help at the critical juncture of Iraq's fight against COVID-19, which has reflected the deep friendship of the Chinese people towards Iraq. Iraq attaches great importance to developing relations with China. He hopes that the two sides will overcome the impact of the pandemic and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and oil. Iraq will firmly crack down on terrorist forces such as the IS, and maintain good relations with neighboring countries, so as to safeguard regional security and stability.