During a meeting at
the State House in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and Peng Qinghua,
the
special envoy and vice chairwoman of the standing committee of the National
People’s Congress of China, discussed strengthening economic ties between the
two nations. The meeting was also attended by Zhang Yi, a minister-counselor,
and Cui Jinachun, China’s ambassador to Nigeria.
In a statement relayed
by Tunde Rahman, an assistant to Tinubu, Qinghua acknowledged the positive
bilateral relations and existing economic cooperation between China and
Nigeria. She commended the success of Chinese businesses in Nigeria,
particularly in the areas of free trade zones, hydropower, and highways.
Qinghua praised Tinubu’s strategic approach to driving Nigeria’s economic
growth and prosperity but also highlighted areas where Nigeria could benefit
from China’s expertise.
Qinghua urged
President Tinubu to create a more favorable investment environment and
encouraged both nations to exchange ideas and align their goals. In response,
Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s openness to trade and cooperative partnerships,
emphasizing that Nigeria is willing to engage in business with any nation that
is willing to reciprocate. He assured Qinghua that his administration would
prioritize promoting ease of doing business and fostering accelerated growth.
Tinubu was quoted as
saying, “We need accelerated growth, and we are ready to do business
honestly with those ready to do business with us.” He further emphasized
his commitment to promoting democracy within the West African sub-region,
citing himself as a product of democracy and pledging to work tirelessly to
advance democratic values. Tinubu also asserted Nigeria’s determination to
combat terrorism and all forms of criminality. He expressed a willingness to
learn from China while maintaining a non-aligned stance.
The meeting between
President Tinubu and Qinghua demonstrated the mutual desire to strengthen
economic cooperation and explore avenues for shared growth between China and
Nigeria. Both leaders emphasized the importance of trade, investment, and
collaboration for the benefit of their respective nations.
