China in the Mashriq: New Best Friend

... an international airport in Iraq’s fourth largest city, Nasiriyah. These and many other projects are part of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) with both nations involved therein. It is the geographical location in terms of further development of the BRI as well as Iraq’s energy resources that are of primary interest to China that keeps vigorously developing its ties with Iraq. This also comes as a major factor in Beijing’s desire to expand its influence there. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the ...