Beijing: Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali Al Zaidi discussed with US envoy Tom Barrack in a phone call Thursday, the future of relations between Baghdad and Washington and ways to enhance cooperation on a number of political, economic, and security issues.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office stated that the first official contact between the two sides since the Prime Minister's designation addressed the importance of developing the strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States in line with regional challenges and the political changes taking place in the region.