BAGHDAD - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told the newly-arrived Chinese ambassador Tuesday that Iraq is willing to expand cooperation and strengthen ties with China.

Talabani made the statement when receiving the credential from Ni Jian, China's new ambassador to Iraq, in his presidential palace.

The friendship between Iraq and China can be traced back to more than a millennium ago and endured the test of time, Talabani said.

The recent years have seen increasing cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in multiple fields, bearing positive results and breakthroughs, he said.

Ni Jian said that China attaches great importance to the Chinese-Iraqi relations and is willing to broaden friendly ties with Iraq on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.