The head of the National State Forces Alliance, Ammar al-Hakim, stressed the importance of transforming the current political stability in Iraq into permanent stability. The alliance stated in a statement: "Al-Hakim met today with the Japanese Ambassador to Iraq, Futoshi Matsumoto, and exchanged views with him on the developments of the political scene in the region, as well as bilateral relations between Baghdad and Tokyo in the economic, cultural and scientific fields." According to the statement, al-Hakim stressed the importance of "benefiting from Japan's experiences in the field of construction and reconstruction," indicating that "Iraq has a good impression of Japanese companies, and we called for a greater presence of these companies in the investment opportunities offered by Iraq." He pointed to "the political stability in Iraq, indicating that it is the result of the sacrifices of the Iraqi people in confronting terrorism and building their new democratic experience, calling at the same time for e veryone to contribute to transforming it into permanent stability." Source: National Iraqi News Agency