BAGHDAD, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday held a phone call to discuss bilateral ties and economic cooperation, according to a statement by al-Zaidi's media office.
During the talk, al-Zaidi highlighted efforts to establish a joint Iraqi-German fund to finance Iraq's industrial projects, and called for expanding German investment in the country, read the statement.
He also reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to combating corruption and diversifying its economy to make the country an open investment destination, it read.
For his part, Merz formally invited al-Zaidi to visit Germany, affirmed Berlin's support for Baghdad's economic reforms, and highlighted German companies' readiness to invest in Iraq, it added. ■
