Bilateral trade between Nigeria and China has reached $18 billion in the first half of 2026, a figure that represents 35 per cent increase from the previous year.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yu Dunhai, at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The ambassador stated that Chinese imports from Nigeria recorded a stronger growth during the period, surging by 81 per cent.

“In the first half of this year, our bilateral trade reached $18 billion, up by 35 per cent, with Chinese imports from Nigeria surging by 81 per cent”, he said.

The ambassador noted that the increase reflected the deepening economic relationship between the two countries as well as the recent efforts to strengthen the institutional framework for trade.

“Our practical cooperation is flourishing. Recent agreements on economic partnership and aquatic exports provide strong institutional support for trade expansion”, he said.

He also highlighted on China’s decision to extend zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries, saying that policy, which came into effect in May, is already creating new opportunities for African exporters.

“China has implemented zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries, starting May 1. The impact was immediate. China’s import from Africa grew by 24 per cent in May and June alone”, Yu said.

According to him, the policy will help African countries transform their resource advantages into industrial strength while supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and efforts to create a fairer global trading system.

Yu informed that China’s approach to Africa was based on equality, mutual benefit and solidarity, adding that Beijing remained committed to supporting African integration and self-reliant development.

“Marking 70 years of China-Africa diplomatic relations, we have built a model of sound cooperation based on equality, mutual benefits and solidarity”, he said.

The ambassador said the people-to-people relations are also helping to accelerate the movement of knowledge, technology and capital between China and Africa.

He cited Chinese innovations in areas such as open-source artificial intelligence models, digital payments and solar energy as examples of technologies that could help address development challenges across the continent.

“During the China-Africa year of people-to-people exchange, closer ties are accelerating the flow of knowledge and capital,” he said.

Yu said China and Nigeria had particularly strengthened their relationship over 55 years of diplomatic ties, with both countries moving towards greater practical cooperation.

“Celebrating the 55th year of diplomatic ties, China and Nigeria have grown closer through mutual respect and shared success. Under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our relationship has entered the fast lane”, he stated.

The Envoy commended the Tinubu administration’s structural reforms, macroeconomic stabilisation and efforts to improve the business environment, saying they had created conditions for deeper economic cooperation.

“We highly commend President Tinubu’s structural reforms, macroeconomic stabilization and business environment enhancements, which have boosted Nigeria’s economic recovery and created optimal conditions for deeper cooperation.”

Yu said China was ready to align its development cooperation with the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in industrialisation, digital development, green and blue economies.

“Our future cooperation holds boundless potential. China stands ready to align its 55-Year Plan with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda across industrialization, digital green and blue economies.

He also invited Nigeria to participate in international cooperation on artificial intelligence.

“We also invite Nigeria to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to share global tech development”, he said.

The ambassador stated that China’s growing economic strength is driven by continued investment in technology, innovation and new industries.

He said China’s economy grew by 4.7 per cent in the first half of the year, describing the performance as a strong start to the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan.

“In the first half of this year, China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.7 per cent, securing a strong start for the 15th Five-Year Plan,” Yu said.

He added that China’s extensive new-energy supply chain was contributing to global energy stability, while emerging technologies such as AI, robotics and innovative pharmaceuticals were creating new drivers of economic growth.

“By fostering new quality productive forces, emerging tech drivers like AI, robotics and innovative pharmaceuticals are thriving, driving global industrial upgrades”, he said.

Yu also spoke about China’s growing role in global governance, stressing that Beijing had introduced initiatives aimed at addressing what he described as global governance deficits.

According to the envoy, China had established a group of friends of global governance and issued policy papers to promote international cooperation, adding that China had led efforts to establish international organisations focused on data and artificial intelligence, with the objective of ensuring that technological development benefits countries and peoples more broadly.

The ambassador stated that China would continue to promote what it described as a community with a shared future for mankind through international cooperation.

On China-Africa relations, Yu said China was marking 70 years of diplomatic relations with the continent and would continue to support African development.

He noted that the relationship was increasingly being strengthened through trade, investment, technology, cultural exchange and cooperation in new areas.

Yu also pointed to growing global interest in China, citing increased foreign travel to the country and international interest in Chinese products culture and development experience.

He held that China had used international platforms to promote what he described as “China Opportunity 2.0”, focusing on innovation, industrial cooperation, green transition and digital cooperation, assuring that such areas could also create stronger opportunities for China-Africa cooperation and African modernisation.

Reflecting on his two years as Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu said his travels across the country had deepened his appreciation of Nigerians and the resilience of her people.“Over the past two years, I have traveled across Nigeria’s bustling cities, rural heartlands, and made many new friends. And I have come to appreciate even more deeply Nigerian people’s resilient, optimistic, and self-reliant Niger spirit.”

Yu said the determination of Nigerians to embrace new opportunities and improve their circumstances through hard work had earned his admiration.

According to him, October 1 holds a special significance for both countries because China celebrates its National Day on the same date Nigeria marks its Independence Day.

“We gather here tonight to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. October 1 marks both China’s National Day and Nigeria’s Independence Day, a shared memory for both of our nations”, he said.

Yu expressed appreciation to Nigerians and Chinese citizens supporting the China-Nigeria relationship as well as guests, who attended the celebration.

He also attributed China’s development Chinese modernisation, which he said, is creating opportunities for global development.

“Today, China is advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, injecting certainty and bringing opportunities for global development.”

Yu added that China will continue to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in areas capable of producing practical benefits for both countries and that the two nations should maintain the momentum of their relationship through innovation, openness and sincere cooperation.

“Those who walk the same path go far. Let us empower development through innovation, openness and sincere cooperation to continuously enrich China-Nigeria friendship and write a new chapter in China-Africa relations.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his remarks, congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people on national day.

Represented at the event by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, Mr. President recalled Nigeria’s 55-year diplomatic relationship with China, and commended Chinese contributions to infrastructure, power, railway modernisation, healthcare and technical training.

He also stressed the need for the expanding relationship to translate into stronger Nigerian production and exports.

“Our shared task is to translate that asset into stronger Nigerian production and Nigerian exports to China”, Tinubu said.

The President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the One-China principle, stating that Nigeria recognised the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

He also called for greater cooperation in electricity, renewable energy and the manufacture of power equipment, with emphasis on developing Nigerian engineers, technicians and local enterprises.