Iraq needs to rebuild after war, experts say By JAN YUMUL in Hong Kong | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2021-07-26 09:12
UNESCO workers transport pieces of marble from near Hosh al-Bieaa (Church square) to make a room for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to the site in the old city of Mosul, Iraq, February 22, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]
Mooted withdrawal sharpens focus on country s political, social, economic woes
As talk of a possible full withdrawal of United States troops in Iraq surfaces, experts say the war-ravaged country should focus on building its domestic strength after what many have called an illegal war.
Amid a series of targeted attacks on US interests in and near Iraq, the withdrawal of all US combat forces, estimated at 2,500, is again high on the agenda, media reports say. When Kofi Annan was the United Nations secretary-general, he called the war illegal and said it was not in conformity with the UN Charter .
G7 plan could help Belt and Road Initiative By JAN YUMUL and XU WEIWEI in Hong Kong | China Daily Global | Updated: 2021-07-06 10:03 A G7 logo is seen on an information sign near the Carbis Bay hotel resort in St Ives, Cornwall, southwest Britain, May 24, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]
A plan by the Group of Seven to help developing nations scale up infrastructure can only complement, rather than replace, the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, which has already forged deep ties in many parts of the world, according to experts.
As people wish the G7 s plan would be paired with the BRI, potential conditions attached to financial aid from the West would make it easier for many nations to ultimately conclude that sticking to the BRI would be more beneficial.