Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms. YAN Yuqing, has said that with the complex and ever-changing international situation, China is ready to work with Nigeria to strengthen mutual benefit, uphold fairness, justice, peace and stability.
She noted that recently member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, H. E. Wang Yi, held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H. E. Yusuf Tuggar.
Nigeria applauds and supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The two Ministers co-chaired the first Plenary Session of the China-Nigeria Intergovernmental Committee, engaging in extensive and in-depth discussions in the three major areas of politics, economy and trade, and culture.
The talks highlighted the need for deepening political mutual trust, enhancing military cooperation, and jointly safeguarding national peace and stability. The two sides agreed to work towards good governance and democratic values, peace, security and stability in the Sahel region and recognise Nigeria’s leading role in the fight against terrorism and other related transborder crimes.
China commended His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership role in ECOWAS and his efforts towards bringing about stability in the region. China expressed its commitment to support Nigeria in upgrading its science and technology in the military sector, equipment, and capacity building of intelligence to respond more effectively to traditional and non-traditional security challenges at home and aboard, as well as at the regional and international levels, and to safeguard peace and stability of the country.
It was also agreed that necessary efforts towards ensuring economic viability of the region would be pursued through infrastructure development and sectoral cooperation. The two countries will continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, finance, agriculture, industry, mining and free trade zones. Both countries will jointly explore cooperation opportunities in fields such as digital economy, green economy and blue economy, and they will foster new growth drivers in cooperation.
China expressed willingness to expand imports of Nigerian agricultural products, while Nigeria called for increased partnership in Mining and Solid Mineral development and expressed willingness to partner with Chinese companies to establish manufacturing companies in Nigeria for local consumption and exports.
Both nations stand ready to create an open, transparent, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for the corporate cooperation between the two countries, strengthen the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, oppose trade protectionism, and promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation. Both governments committed to intensifying efforts to protect the rights and dignity of each others’ citizens living in its country and create a business-friendly environment for their business.
Using people-to-people exchanges as a bridge to enhance mutual friendship between the two nations and to promote cultural exchange between China and Nigeria, both parties seek more Chinese and Nigerian provinces and municipalities/States and Local Governments in establishing more friendly relations.
