China displays latest defense tech at Iraq defense expo

Chinese defense companies have displayed their latest technologies at the ongoing 13th Security, Defense, Military Industries and Cybersecurity Exhibition which opened on Saturday in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.

The four-day event, attended by 155 companies from 24 countries, serves as a platform for showcasing the latest innovations and technologies in the fields of defense and cybersecurity, as well as advanced solutions in communications, surveillance systems, and police equipment.

Chinese exhibitors have shown a range of cutting-edge military technologies such as multiple unmanned combat platforms, surface-to-air missile systems, advanced radar equipment, and armored vehicles, underscoring China's rapid advancements in information-based intelligent defense technologies.

"Chinese defense companies are leveraging their strengths in technical equipment and systems integration to collaborate with Iraq. This cooperation aims to support the modernization of Iraq's defense and security infrastructure and enhance the sustainable development of its military-industrial complex," said Xiong Chaogao, a Chinese exhibitor.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani inaugurated the exhibition, and visited China's booth afterwards.

In his speech at the exhibition, Al-Sudani emphasized the importance of making the exhibition an effective platform for scientific and technological partnerships between the Iraqi industrial sector and participating companies.

China's outstanding aggregate social financing -- the total amount of financing to the real economy -- reached 442.12 trillion yuan (about 63.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of 2025, up 8.3 percent year on year, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The country's aggregate social financing stood at 35.6 trillion yuan (about 5.1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up by 3.34 trillion yuan (about 479 billion U.S. dollars) from the year 2024, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank.

According to the data, the M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.5 percent year on year to 340.29 trillion yuan (about 48.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of December.

In addition, outstanding yuan loans stood at 271.91 trillion yuan (about 39 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year.