China, Nigeria pledge to strengthen ties

President Xi Jinping declared his readiness to work closely with President Bola Tinubu to fully unleash the exemplary roles of China-Nigeria diplomatic friendship and advance China-Africa cooperation.

This was disclosed during their meeting at the Great Hall in Beijing, where Tinubu was on a state visit at Xi’s invitation.

The meeting precedes the 2024 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for September 4 to September 6 in Beijing.

Xi stated that since establishing diplomatic ties half a century ago, China and Nigeria have treated each other with mutual understanding, seeking collective strength, unity, and win-win cooperation.

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Xi proposed elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, citing the upcoming FOCAC summit as an opportunity to advance China-Africa relations.

He expressed readiness to work with Tinubu to fully unleash the exemplary role of China-Nigeria cooperation.

Tinubu expressed appreciation for the invitation, noting that the visit marked his second to China, first as governor of Lagos and now as president.

He acknowledged the long-standing China-Nigeria relations and the potential for strengthened trade and economic development.

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The meeting culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Belt and Road Initiative projects, news exchange cooperation, and television cooperation, among others.

President Tinubu was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Sen. Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna, and Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara, among others.