CRI听力：Ahmadinejad Pays Landmark Visit to Iraq

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to start a landmark visit to Iraq. It is the first for an Iranian president since Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani gave Ahmadinejad a red-carpet welcome.

During a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Iran president said the Iraqi people should hold their own interests.

"The interests of the Iraqi people are determined by the Iraqi people and we think that the Iraqi government along with the Iraqi people are aware of their own best interests at the regional level.''

Al-Maliki emphasised that the Iranian leader's visit was an expression of the strong desire to enhance the relations and develop mutual interests after the past tensions.

"This visit and its consequences and outcomes will absolutely be an encouraging step for our brothers and friends from other neighbouring countries to visit Iraq and see and experience the new democratic Iraq."

Ahmadinejad's visit also comes as the U.S. is accusing Iran of backing Iraqi Shiite insurgents to create instability.

Iran denies the allegation. Ahmadinejad blamed the U.S. and its allies for the unrest in Iraq, saying that the insecurity, dissension and violence in Iraq are the result of the plots of occupation forces.

Iran and Iraq fought a bloody eight-year war in 1980s. However, the relations have been picking up since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003 and the Shiites came into power.

During Ahmadinejad's two-day visit, the two sides are expected to sign up to 10 economic agreements