President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja lauded the enduring partnership between Nigeria and China, emphasizing the importance of fostering and expanding this bilateral relationship. The President made these remarks during a meeting with Mr. Chen Xiaodong, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, at the State House.
“For us, it is a new beginning with you. A relationship that has lasted more than 50 years must be nourished, nurtured, and promoted,” President Tinubu stated, highlighting the longstanding ties between the two nations. He underscored the mutual commitment to labor, understanding, and development as fundamental values shared by both countries.
President Tinubu expressed his satisfaction with China’s support for Nigeria’s bid for a more prominent position in global platforms such as the G20, the UN Security Council, and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). “We believe in ourselves. We are determined to enhance the values of our people,” he affirmed. Reflecting on China’s transformation over the years, Tinubu noted, “I once visited Shanghai when it was a village, and to see the rapid transformation, the technological development, is worth more collaborative efforts.”
Commending Chinese President Xi Jinping for his focus on strengthening relations with Nigeria and Africa, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of bilateral relations and expressed his desire to fortify these ties. “This is the largest economy in Africa. To classify us as a backwater economy, no matter how hungry we are, we will manage our hunger. We will be friends and partners with those who respect our values, and China is one of them,” Tinubu remarked.
He also acknowledged China’s role in aiding Africa with capital mobilization for impactful projects and stressed the need for infrastructure development in Nigeria. “You have good technology that you can transfer. You have a good opportunity to make an indelible mark on Nigeria,” Tinubu stated, highlighting the potential for skill development programs and knowledge transfer.
President Tinubu extended his gratitude for the invitation to visit China and praised the progress made in the Lekki Free Trade Zone. “We need to establish more industrial parks across the country. Nigeria is blessed with mineral resources, and we have a lot of Chinese nationals around. We need to discuss more on that and promote cordial relationships for mutual benefit,” he added.
In response, Vice Minister Chen Xiaodong conveyed President Xi Jinping’s invitation to President Tinubu and commended his strategic vision and leadership roles in ECOWAS and Africa. “You are an important leader and a strategist in Africa. We believe that your meeting with President Jinping will open up more discussions and opportunities for Nigeria and Africa,” Xiaodong said. He also congratulated President Tinubu on his re-election as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
This high-level meeting marks a significant step in bolstering Nigeria-China relations, with both leaders expressing optimism about future collaborations and mutual benefits.
