Nigeria, China strengthen ties with comprehensive strategic partnership
By Kunle Sanni
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the elevation of Nigeria-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. This decision aims to foster a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future, enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors.
The announcement came as part of President Tinubu’s official visit to China, which precedes his participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for September 4-6. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, detailed the strengthened ties in an official statement.
“This visit is crucial for Nigeria and Africa, as I represent ECOWAS. I am grateful for the honor extended to us,” President Tinubu stated. He emphasized the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and China, which has spanned over 50 years, and expressed the need for further strengthening to boost trade and economic development.
“Nigeria, with the largest population and economy in Africa, is well-positioned to drive economic growth and cross-sectoral initiatives. We have upgraded our relationship to a comprehensive developmental partnership, which is essential for robust development, stability, and security in the West African region,” he added.
Regarding economic reforms, President Tinubu assured President Xi of Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable growth through ongoing reforms. He recognized China’s successful economic reforms and expressed Nigeria’s dedication to improving its own economic landscape across various sectors.
President Xi acknowledged the deep mutual understanding established over the years and emphasized the importance of collective strength and win-win cooperation between the two nations. He noted that the upcoming FOCAC Summit would provide a platform for further enhancing China-Africa relations.
During their meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering diverse areas, including cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, nuclear energy, human resource development, media exchange, and collaboration between Chinese and Nigerian media organizations.
President Tinubu also visited the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), praising its role in Nigeria’s infrastructure development. He assured the Nigerian public that critical railway projects would be completed to their satisfaction.
In another engagement, President Tinubu visited Huawei Technologies’ Beijing Research Centre, where the company unveiled the DigiTruck initiative, aimed at improving digital literacy in underserved Nigerian communities.
On their part, Huawei’s leadership expressed their commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation and the development of technical talents.
With these developments, the partnership between Nigeria and China continues to evolve, promising mutual benefits and increased cooperation in various sectors.
