Iraq’s Dhi Qar Governor Mortada Al-Ibrahimi announced on March 6 the signing of a contract with Chinese company “CCTE” to build a 100-bed hospital in Suq Al-Shuyukh district.

China continues to make inroads into Iraq as the US continues to downgrade its presence in the region under US President Donald Trump’s drawdown from the region, including northern Iraq, which began under the previous Biden administration.

His media office said in a statement received by IntelliNews that Al-Ibrahimi attended the signing ceremony for the hospital construction contract under the 2024 investment budget, in cooperation with CCTE, and in the presence of regional and central government officials.

Following the signing, the governor said that "the hospital will strengthen the health infrastructure in the province and serve the districts of Suq Al-Shuyukh, Al-Fadhliya, Karma Bani Saeed and Al-Tar, which will help reduce pressure on other hospitals."

He added that the project includes comprehensive services covering construction, equipment and furnishing, alongside providing three ambulances to support emergency services.

Al-Ibrahimi indicated that "the new hospital will help reduce patients' suffering in transportation, especially in critical cases, and will enhance the capacity of hospitals."

He confirmed the country will sign another contract for a medical city, which will constitute a qualitative addition to the health situation in the province, which has suffered massively since the Saddam Hussein era and subsequent US occupation of the country.

In June 2024, Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani confirmed that Iraq and China would work to integrate Baghdad into China’s Belt and Road (BRI) project as part of Chinese companies' investment in the country.

Earlier in 2024, Beijing, in a significant move to expand its influence in the Middle East following the United States' withdrawal, signed a deal with Iraq to build 1,000 schools. Construction of hundreds has started across the country in a move seen by the West with suspicion.

The school building development is part of Beijing's larger push for a more significant regional role across Iraq and other countries in the region.  That deal, which is part of an "oil for reconstruction" programme, involves funding the construction through the proceeds from Iraqi oil sales to China.