Tinubu to meet Jinping over road, rail projects, others

• To attend FOCAC summit thereafter

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to meet with the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, in Beijing by first week of September, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said yesterday.

Ngelale, however, was not categorical on the exact date the President would depart for the Asian country.

According to Ngelale, the Nigerian leader will, during the visit, engage in a series of meetings with his Chinese counterpart and 10 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of different major corporations for the economic benefit of the country.

He said that President Tinubu would also engage in bilateral talks and sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and other agreements that would deepen cooperation in various sectors, including the green economy, blue economic development, national planning cooperation, among others.

He also said issues of national, regional and international security would also be part of the discussions, adding that other areas of concern during the President’s visit would be the completion of the Abuja to Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kaduna standard railway.

The presidential spokesman added that issues on information technology, refining, oil and gas, and satellite technology would also be on the front burner during the trip.

He said: “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will depart for the People’s Republic of China, most specifically, Beijing, from the nation’s capital within the first week of September, to engage in a series of meetings and activities with immediate and future benefit to the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian people.

“First and foremost, His Excellency, Mr President, will conduct site visits to two major Chinese corporations; Huawei Technologies, and the China Rail and Construction Corporation, (CRCC).

“This is with a view to achieve one of Mr President’s top agenda items, which is the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high speed rail line.”

He added that thereafter, the President would meet 10 selected chief executive officers of 10 major Chinese corporations with assets under management totalling over $3 trillion across multiple sectors of the economy, including information and communications technology, refining oil and gas, aluminum production, seaport construction, harbour construction and dredging services, financial services, satellite technology development, as well as many other critical sectors.”

“Mr President will also meet with his Chinese counterpart in the person of President Xi Jinping, where several MOUs will be signed. The MOUs will involve agreements in deepening cooperation, in green economy, in agriculture, in satellite technology development, in media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue economic development and national planning cooperation.”

The presidential spokesman added that thereafter, the President would join the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, where African heads of state will be present to engage with Chinese leaders on various important matters.

“At this FOCAC Summit, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and certainly would proceed to the high level peace and security plenary, where he will further deliver remarks on peace and security in the region and in Africa in his capacity as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”