Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on his taking office as Iraq's prime minister.

In the message, Li noted that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of China-Iraq relations and is willing to work with the Iraqi government to continuously consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, enhance pragmatic cooperation in various fields and promote the China-Iraq strategic partnership for new progress.

(Cover: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani arrives for the official ceremony at the Republican Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, October 28, 2022. /CFP)