China was one of the first countries to invest in Iraq after the US invasion, buying into its oil industry and areas such as construction and tourism, the Washington Post reports. China holds investments in 3 of 11 contracts the Iraqi Oil Ministry signed.
Iraq is the first country that confirmed it was not going to Oslo that Freedom House says is making improvements in political rights and civil liberties. That assessment is largely based on provincial elections held in January 2009 and increased autonomy as US troops have begun to withdraw. Those improvements were tempered by sectarian killings, however. Targeting of Iraqi Christians happened too recently to be factored into this report, but may negate Iraq's upward trend in Freedom House rankings.
Similarly, while China has no troops in war-battered Afghanistan, its proximity and soaring economy make it a valuable prospective partner. In March, Afghan President Karzai traveled to Beijing to sign agreements on economic cooperation, and trade. It is already a major source of consumer goods for Afghanistan, and two-way trade totaled $155 million in 2008, reports the Huffington Post.
