By Williams Anuku President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday in Beijing, China, exchanged ideas on ways of s...
By Williams Anuku
President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on
Tuesday in Beijing, China, exchanged ideas on ways of strengthening bilateral
ties for the benefit of the citizens.
To this end, both leaders agreed to build a high-level
Nigeria-China community collaboration with a shared future.
This was part of the fallout of talks between the two
leaders during President Tinubu’s official visit to China.
President Tinubu’s official visit precedes his participation
in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled to hold
from September 4-6, 2024.
”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 to us.
”Relations between China and Nigeria have indeed lasted for
over half a century and should be further strengthened to advance our trade and
economic development programmes.
”Nigeria holds great potential 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,” President Tinubu said.
On economic reforms in Nigeria, President 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 recognized 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 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.
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