Iraqi PM arrives in Beijing for first China visit

 　　BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Beijing Sunday night for his first official visit to China as a guest of his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao.

　　During al-Maliki's stay in China from Sunday to Thursday, President Hu Jintao will meet with him, and Premier¹ Wen will hold talks with the Iraqi prime minister, Chinese Foreign Ministry² spokesman Hong Lei said earlier.

　　China and Iraq share a traditional friendship, Hong said, adding that the two countries have witnessed smooth development of bilateral³ relations, steadily⁴ growing economic cooperation and increasing cultural exchanges.

　　"China is ready to work with the international community and to continue to provide assistance for the Iraqi people to improve their livelihoods," said the spokesman.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

4 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。