Iraq experts welcome China policy plan

Iraqi economic experts welcomed the outcomes of China’s latest Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing, saying the policy directions set for 2026 chart a roadmap for sustained growth and for overcoming current and future challenges. The meeting, which set priorities for next year and the start of the 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026–2030), emphasized expanding domestic demand, stabilizing growth, managing financial risks and supporting high‑quality development through investments in digitalization, green industries and high‑tech manufacturing.

Iraqi analysts said those priorities could produce positive spillovers for Iraq and other economies tied to global trade and energy markets. China remains one of Iraq’s largest trading partners and a major buyer of its crude oil; experts in Baghdad argued that steady Chinese demand and clearer policy guidance could reduce commodity volatility, strengthen predictability for Iraq’s budget planning and sustain external demand needed for reconstruction and public spending. They also highlighted opportunities for cooperation beyond oil — in infrastructure, power generation and industrial zones — if China’s renewed momentum accelerates investment flows and technology transfer.

University of Baghdad economics professor Safwan Qusay pointed to digitalization and the green economy as gateways to growth and deeper integration by 2030. Researcher Amir al‑Saadi said the conference’s policy balance aims to preserve China’s development momentum while curbing risks that could arise over the next five years, reflecting close coordination between policy, legislative and executive authorities.

Iraqi commentators noted concrete measures signalled at the conference — efforts to build a unified national market in China, targeted fiscal and monetary tools to maintain liquidity and support employment and businesses, and campaigns to boost consumption — as elements likely to sustain China’s internal demand and energy needs. They urged Iraq to improve its business environment and regulatory frameworks to attract Chinese investment and benefit from potential technology and infrastructure partnerships.

Experts cautioned, however, that global uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and uneven growth elsewhere remain risks. They stressed that while China’s policy trajectory is encouraging for oil exporters, Iraq must continue diversifying its economy and reducing dependence on hydrocarbons. Overall, Iraqi economists viewed the conference outcomes as a stabilizing signal for global markets and a potentially positive factor for countries closely linked to China’s economic performance.