After two decades of war, Iraq embraces brighter future with Chinese companies' efforts, commitment in reconstruction

随着中国企业加大对伊拉克重建方面的努力和责任，经过长达20年战争的伊拉克将会迎来一个更加光明的未来。

Exactly two decades after a US-led invasion was launched, Iraq is undergoing tremendous reconstruction on the ruins of war as it tries to heal the wounds from the past.

在美国发动其对伊拉克军事入侵的整整20年后，伊拉克正在战争废墟中经历一场巨大的重建，试图疗愈过去战争带来的创伤。

In recent years, many Chinese companies have gone to Iraq to join in reconstruction efforts. For these Chinese constructors, this is much more than just a job opportunity or business project, but is a chance to make a meaningful contribution to the local people who have gone through the pain of war.

近年来，许多中国企业前往伊拉克参与重建工作。对于这些中国建筑商而言，这不仅仅是一个工作机会或商业项目，而更多是一个为经历过战争痛苦的当地人民做出有意义贡献的机会。

These Chinese companies are involved in a wide range of reconstruction efforts across Iraq, covering different areas including infrastructure development, the upgrading of transportation systems, home and community reconstruction, and the building of new schools.

这些中国企业参与到伊拉克各地广泛的重建工作，涉及基础设施建设、交通系统升级、家庭和社区重建以及新学校建设等不同领域。

The rebuilding of Iraq is a daunting task, but it is one that Chinese companies have embraced with a sense of responsibility and commitment. While being fully aware of the enormous challenges that lie ahead, they are also mindful of the immense opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the Iraqi people.

伊拉克的重建工作虽是一项极具艰难的任务，但中国企业仍满怀责任感和使命感欣然接受了这项任务。他们不仅充分认识到重建工作可能带来的巨大挑战，同时也意识到它会是一次可以改变伊拉克人民生活的巨大机会。

Ultimately, the rebuilding of Iraq is about more than just a brick-and-mortar exercise. It is about the future of a nation and the hopes and dreams of its people. In interviews with the Global Times, people in charge of Chinese companies in Iraq said that they are honored to be a part of this process, and they are working tirelessly to ensure that the end result offers the nation a better, brighter future.

归根结底，伊拉克的重建不是简单的添砖加瓦，它更多地关系到一个国家的未来及其人民的希望和梦想。在接受《环球时报》采访时，在伊拉克的中国企业负责人表示，他们很荣幸能参与到重建工作中来，并表示他们会竭尽全力地工作，以确保最终能为伊拉克提供一个更美好、更光明的未来。

Taking the duty

承担责任

Yellow sand, white gulls, and blue waves set the scene as dawn breaks at the peaceful Fao port in Basra province, southern Iraq.

黎明时分，在位于伊拉克南部巴士拉省宁静的粮农组织港口周围，黄沙、白鸥和蓝色海浪映入眼帘。

Two decades ago, also on such a spring day, war broke out from this very peninsula of the Persian Gulf.

二十年前，也是在这样一个美好的春日下，也是在波斯湾这一半岛的附近，战争爆发了。

Today, the ruins which litter the region stand as a mute testament to the ravages of war.

今天，散落在该地区的废墟无声证实着战争的蹂躏。

Once known as the "Venice of the Middle East," Basra has since lost its former prosperity. As the only hub connecting the Persian Gulf and the inland water system in Iraq, the city is eager to return to its former glory in development.

战争过后，曾被誉为“中东威尼斯”的巴士拉早已失去了昔日的繁荣。作为连接波斯湾和伊拉克内陆水系的唯一枢纽，这座城市渴望重回往日的发展辉煌。

Large construction projects are underway in the city, with sea vessels assisting in various projects.

该市正进行许多大型建设项目，并且在各种项目中都有用到海船。

Among them are Tianshan and Tianbai, two dredging vessels from China. This is the first phase in the dredging project for Iraq's new port in Fao. Employees of the Tianjin Dredging Co, a subsidiary of the China Communication Construction Co, work alongside locals on the site to pave the way for the arrival and docking of future vessels.

其中包括来自中国的两艘挖泥船天山号和天白号。目前工作正处于伊拉克粮农组织新港口疏浚工程的第一阶段。中国交通建设公司的子公司天津疏浚公司的员工在现场与当地人一起工作，为未来船只的到达和停靠铺平道路。

Chinese dredging vessel Tianbai works at the site of Iraq's new port in Fao Photo: Courtesy of Tianjin Dredging Co

粮农组织的照片显示中国疏浚船天白号在伊拉克新港附近工作，该照片由天津疏浚公司提供。

This is a key project which will link the port to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

这会是一个将该港口与一带一路倡议连接起来的关键项目。

"When our boats arrived at Iraq, we were warmly welcomed by locals who cheered for our team and our big vessels," Wu Lin, project manager at the Tianjin International Marine Engineering Co Ltd, recalled as he recounted arriving at the port in July 2022.

天津国际海洋工程有限公司的项目经理吴琳在讲述自己团队于2022年7月抵达该港口的经历时回忆道：“当我们的船只抵达伊拉克时，我们受到了当地人的热烈欢迎，他们为我们的团队和我们的大型船只欢呼。”

The total area of the harbor basin being dredged is about 3.3 million square meters, and the total engineering volume is about 48 million cubic meters. It is scheduled to be completed in July 2025, at which point the port is expected to be the largest in the Middle East and should help reverse the challenge of Iraq's short coastline and poor port throughput.

疏浚港池总面积约330万平方米，工程总量约4800万立方米。该工程计划于2025年7月完工，届时该港口预计将成为中东最大的港口，并将有助于改善伊拉克海岸线短和港口吞吐量低的缺点。

According to Wu, since the port is located right where the American army landed 20 years ago, the project has faced many challenges. "There are still bombs left around the area," he said. "We still have to scan the seabed before we start our work to avoid bombs."

据吴介绍，由于该港口正好位于20年前美军登陆的地方，该项目因此面临诸多挑战。他表示：“该地区仍有炸弹残留。在开始工作之前，我们仍必须扫描海底，以避免炸弹。”

The legacy of war in Iraq goes far beyond undetonated explosive devices and stretches to occasional turmoil, chaotic social management, as well as apathy among the local population.

伊拉克战争的后果远不止那些未引爆的爆炸装置，战争后果甚至蔓延到时而爆发的社会动荡、毫无章法的社会管理以及当地居民对重建工作的冷漠。

"Iraq has a long and rich history and civilization, but the country was ruined by wars in past decades," Wu told the Global Times. "I have met many hardworking and honest locals here. Those who work on our project work very hard without complaints, wishing to change their country's situation as soon as possible."

吴告诉《环球时报》：“伊拉克有着悠久而丰富的历史和文明，但在过去的几十年里，这个国家遭到了战争的严重摧毁。我在这里也遇到了许多勤劳诚实的当地人，而且那些为我们项目工作的本地人都非常努力，毫无怨言，只希望尽快改变他们国家的现况。”

Hussein Abdul Ameer Atia is one of the locals who work at the construction site. "Since I can remember, my country has been at war. We lost our jobs and our homes. Everyone is eager for post-war reconstruction and a stable source of income," he said.

侯赛因·阿卜杜勒·阿米尔·阿蒂亚是在建筑工地上工作的一位当地人。他说：“从我记事起，我的国家就一直处于战争的炮灰中，我们也因此失去了工作和家园。现在每个人都渴望战后重建和稳定的收入来源。”

He has seen the Iraqi port benefit from Chinese contractors who are dredging out the channels and building roads, restoring life after the port lay dormant for 40 years. "I want to build my country, so I chose to join them," Hussein said.

侯赛因见证了伊拉克港口从中国承包商中受益良多，中国这些承包商们正努力地疏浚航道和修建道路，让沉睡长达40年的港口重获往日的生机。“我想建设我的国家，所以我选择加入他们，”侯赛因说。

"Whenever I see a big Chinese ship out at sea, I am full of energy. Every meter that the ship dredges brings us one step closer to our dream. Now my life is full of confidence!" Hussein said excitedly, looking at the port.

侯赛因目视着港口激动地说：“每当我看到一艘中国大船出海，我都充满了活力。船每挖一米，我们就离梦想更近了一步。现在我的生活充满了信心！”

Building for the future

建设未来

Despite having worked on some of the most monumental construction projects in Iraq, Chinese builders can also be spotted in communities working on national projects meant to improve people's livelihoods with infrastructural development.

中国建筑商们不仅参与了伊拉克一些最具纪念意义的建筑项目，而且在社区中也可以看到他们参与建设基础设施的国家项目，以此来改善当地人民的生活水平。

At the end of 2021, under the witness of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, the Iraqi government signed an agreement with Power China and Sino Tech. The two Chinese companies will help Iraq build 1,000 schools.

2021年底，在伊拉克总理穆斯塔法·卡希米（Mustafa Al-Kadhimi）的见证下，伊拉克政府与中国电力和中国科技签署了一项协议。这两家中国公司将帮助伊拉克建造1000所学校。

This model project is the first in a series of construction projects as per the Iraqi government's plan to build 8,000 new schools, which is also currently one of the country's most urgent civil projects.

这一示范项目是伊拉克政府计划建造8000所新学校的一系列建设项目中的第一个，同时这也是该国目前最紧迫的民用项目之一。

As a participant in the execution of the project, Nie Sheng, deputy general manager of the Kuwait Branch at the Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 8 Co Ltd of Power China, arrived in Iraq in February 2022 to conduct research and an initial examination of project sites.

作为项目执行的参与者，中国电力中国水电工程八局有限公司科威特分公司副总经理聂胜于2022年2月抵达伊拉克，对项目现场进行研究和初步检查。

"When I first came here, I thought this would just be a normal project similar to the ones I did before. I knew that Iraq had experienced the chaos of war, but after seeing it with my own eyes, I realized that the reality was far beyond what I had imagined," Nie told the Global Times.

聂在接受《环球时报》采访时表示：“当我第一次来到这里时，我以为这只是一个类似于我以前做过的普通项目。我知道伊拉克经历过战争的混乱，但在亲眼目睹之后，我意识到现实远远超出了我的想象。”

While traveling in central and northern Iraq, along the roughly 300- to 400-kilometer stretch of road connecting the southern and northern regions, Nie saw many abandoned villages and towns. "Many buildings were half demolished and we saw military forts or checkpoints every 500 meters," he recalled.

聂在伊拉克中部和北部穿行的过程中，在沿着连接南北部地区大约300至400公里的公路上，看到了许多废弃的村庄和城镇。他回忆说：“许多建筑遭到了拆毁，并且我们每隔500米就能看到军事要塞或检查站。”

Another legacy of two decades of war, Nie learned, was that the education system in the country currently faces numerous challenges. "There is a great shortage of learning facilities. Different grades often have to share one classroom, and students take turns having their lessons," Nie said.

聂了解到，20年战争的另一个严重后果就是，该国的教育系统目前面临着许多挑战。聂说：“学习设施严重不足。不同年级的学生经常共用一间教室，学生们轮流上课。”

"In one school, I saw students lining up to enter a classroom after another class of students had concluded their lesson," Nie said. "That scene shocked me. I know that many years ago, in some places in China that suffered from extreme poverty, there were such schools as well."

聂说：“在一所学校，我看到学生们在教室外排队等另一班学生下课。那一幕让我震惊。我知道很多年前，在中国一些极度贫困的地方，也有这样的学校。”

The Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 8 Co Ltd took on the task to build 48 schools, from primary schools to high schools. "The largest could have room for more than 1,000 students. In the future, schools built in communities will benefit children and change the future of the country," said Nie, who is now in charge of the construction project in Wasit Province in Iraq, said.

中国水电八局有限公司承担了建设从小学到高中48所学校的任务。聂目前负责伊拉克瓦西特省的建设项目，他表示：“最大的学校可以容纳1000多名学生。未来，在社区中建造的学校将造福儿童，并改变国家的未来。”

Wasit Province is located in the southern region of Iraq. The project is set to be a modern-style school that meets the requirements of the Iraqi environment and traditions, which would include water supply and drainage facilities, fire protection, decorations, and water and electricity pipelines connected to the respective cities.

瓦西特省位于伊拉克南部地区。该项目的目标是建设一所极具现代风格的学校，并且让其符合伊拉克在环境和传统方面的要求，包括供水和排水设施、消防、装饰以及连接到各个城市的水电管道。

An employee of Power China meets local children in Iraq Photo: Courtesy of Power ChinaWhile visiting the school, teachers and some very young students went up to Nie and his colleagues. "They told us that they badly need new schools, and wished that they could be constructed soon. They also took selfies with us, saying that they would share the news that Chinese contractors had arrived to build schools for them with their relatives and friends."

在由中国电力提供的一张照片中，该公司旗下的一名员工在伊拉克会见了当地儿童。在参观学校时，老师和一些非常年轻的学生走到聂和他的同事面前。聂表示：“他们告诉我们，他们非常需要新学校，并希望这些学校能尽快建成。他们还和我们自拍，说他们会把中国承包商来为他们建学校的消息告诉他们的亲戚朋友。”

"From that moment on, I no longer saw this project as a business or merely regular work anymore. I gained a strong sense of mission and I now want to build the schools safely to the high possible quality for the locals," Nie said.

聂说：“从那一刻起，我不再把这个项目看作是一项商业或仅仅是常规工作。我获得了一种强烈的使命感，我现在想为当地人安全地建造尽可能高质量的学校。”

Friendship lasts long

友谊长久

China-Iraq exchanges enjoy a long history. The ancient Chinese Mesopotamian civilizations met and got to know each other on the ancient Silk Road. Historical documents record a large number of stories of friendly exchanges between Iraq and China. Iraq is also one of the first Arab countries to join the BRI.

中伊友谊源远流长。中国古代文明与美索不达米亚文明是在古丝绸之路上相遇并相互了解的。历史文献记载了大量伊中友好交往的故事。伊拉克也是首批加入中国一带一路倡议的阿拉伯国家之一。

"People here are friendly to us. They also like Chinese products - I have never seen so many Chinese-brand cars in any other foreign country," Nie said.

聂说：“这里的人们对我们都很友好。他们也喜欢中国产品，我从未在其他任何国家见过这么多中国品牌的汽车。”

Since the end of the Iraq War, China has been an important participant and supporter in the recovery and boosting of various sectors such as petrochemicals, energy, and infrastructure construction. Since 2021, Chinese companies such as CITIC Construction, China Power, and China State Construction Engineering have successively signed contracts for multiple large-scale construction projects in Iraq, and the Iraqi engineering market continues to expand.

自伊拉克战争结束以来，中国一直是伊拉克石化、能源、基础设施建设等各领域复苏和提振的重要参与者和支持者。2021年以来，中信建设、中国电力、中国建筑工程等中国公司相继在伊拉克签订多个大型建设项目合同，伊拉克工程市场得到持续扩大。

According to Waleed Khaled Mfatan, a 32-year-old Iraqi security engineer working with Nie: "Chinese people are good friends to the Iraqi people. Chinese companies have brought help to the reconstruction of Iraq, brought hope to Iraq, and provided a lot of jobs for the Iraqi people," he told the Global Times.

与聂共事的32岁伊拉克安全工程师瓦利德·哈立德·姆法坦（Waleed Khaled Mfatan）在接受《环球时报》采访时表示：“中国人民是伊拉克人民的好朋友。中国公司为伊拉克的重建带来了帮助，给伊拉克带来了希望，并为伊拉克人民提供了大量就业机会。”

Zheng Jianli contributed to the story

郑建立讲述了这一故事。