President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Chen Xiaodong, in Abuja on Thursday, highlighting the importance of strengthening the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and China.
In a meeting at the State House, President Tinubu expressed his optimism for a renewed chapter in the bilateral relations that have spanned over 50 years.
He stressed the need to nurture and promote this relationship, emphasising mutual commitments to values such as labour, understanding, and development.
“A relationship that has lasted over 50 years must be nourished, nurtured, and promoted. Our mutual commitment to the values of labor, understanding, and development is very important. I am very happy that President Xi Jinping is paying attention to Africa as a whole and our developmental needs,” President Tinubu stated.
President Tinubu welcomed China’s support for Nigeria’s aspiration for a more prominent role in international bodies such as the G20, the UN Security Council, and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
He praised China’s rapid technological and infrastructural transformation and called for increased collaborative efforts to replicate similar progress in Nigeria.
“We believe in ourselves. We are determined to enhance the values of our people. Over the years, China has gone through phases of transformation and development. I once visited Shanghai when it was a village, and to see the rapid transformation, the technological development, is worth more collaborative efforts,” Tinubu remarked.
The President also acknowledged President Xi Jinping’s consistent efforts to strengthen relations with Nigeria and Africa, particularly through capital mobilization for projects that significantly impact African lives and livelihoods.
“The infrastructure need of Africa is monumental, particularly that of Nigeria. You have good technology that you can transfer. You have a good opportunity to make an indelible mark on Nigeria. We have a very vibrant youth population, well-educated, and ready to learn. Skill development programs and the transfer of knowledge are extremely important,” Tinubu added.
He expressed gratitude for President Xi Jinping’s invitation to visit China and highlighted the success of projects like the Lekki Free Trade Zone, urging for the establishment of more industrial parks across Nigeria.
In response, Mr. Xiaodong praised President Tinubu’s strategic vision and leadership roles in ECOWAS and Africa.
He conveyed President Xi Jinping’s invitation and itinerary for Tinubu’s state visit to China and congratulated him on his re-election as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
“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,” Mr. Xiaodong said.
BELLO WAKILI
