By Uche Onyeali
In a move to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China, Presidents Bola Tinubu and Xi Jinping yesterday in Beijing, China, exchanged ideas on ways to improve ties for the benefit of citizens of the two countries.
To this end, both leaders agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community collaboration with a shared future.
This was part of the discussions between the two leaders during President Tinubu’s official visit to China to participate in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation scheduled to hold from September 4 to 6.
According to the Nigerian leader, “This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the chairman of ECOWAS. I thank you for the high-level of honour accorded us.
“Relations between China and Nigeria have indeed lasted for over half a century and should be strengthened to advance our trade and economic developmental programmes.
“Nigeria holds great potentials as the country with the largest population in Africa and is the biggest economy with a very young population that can drive economic growth and cross-sectoral programmes.
“We have upgraded the relationship to more than what is just strategic — but a comprehensive developmental partnership.
“This comprehensive strategic partnership should result in robust development, stability and security in the West African sub-region. This is very crucial.”
On economic reforms in Nigeria, Tinubu told his Chinese counterpart that his administration remains committed to sustainable growth through the effective implementation of ongoing economic reforms.
“We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform programme in Nigeria is on a similar course. I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents.
“We have recognised the need to reform our economy, and we are doing so diligently across tax and tariff reviews, to various other segments of our nation’s economy.
“Trading and investment partners will have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out,” the president stated.
In his remarks, President Xi noted the strong mutual understanding between Nigeria and China since the establishment of diplomatic ties over the past 50 years.
“We have found the path of seeking collective strength, through unity, and win-win cooperation.
“China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination, will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries,” President Xi said.
According to the Chinese leader, the 2024 FOCAC Summit provides an opportunity to reflect on mutual friendships and advance the consolidation of China-Africa relations.
He pledged that China and Nigeria would continue to work closely within the FOCAC framework as a model of cooperation between nations.
During the meeting, both presidents witnessed the signing of several
Memoranda of Understanding, MOUs, on various areas of mutual interest: Among some of the MOUs includes Cooperation plan between Nigeria and China on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on cooperation in the peaceful application of Nuclear Energy and memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation on Human Resource Development under the Global Development Initiative
Others include Memorandum of Understanding on Media Exchange and Cooperation and Memorandum of Understanding between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
