Writing By Bello Wakili; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping have announced the elevation of Nigeria-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership on Tuesday during President Tinubu’s official visit to China.
The two leaders also agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future, marking a new chapter in bilateral ties that have spanned over half a century.
President Tinubu’s visit to China comes ahead of his participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), scheduled from September 4-6, 2024.
In his remarks, President Tinubu highlighted the importance of the visit, not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent, emphasizing Nigeria’s potential as Africa’s most populous nation and its largest economy.
He described the upgraded relationship as one that goes beyond strategic, characterizing it as a comprehensive developmental partnership aimed at fostering robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region.
In a nod to his administration’s ongoing economic reforms, President Tinubu expressed his commitment to sustainable growth, drawing parallels between his efforts and the successful reforms undertaken by President Xi in China.
He reassured potential trading and investment partners of Nigeria’s openness to investment, with a focus on ease of doing business.
President Xi Jinping reciprocated with warm words, noting the strong mutual understanding that has characterized Nigeria-China relations over the past 50 years.
He stressed the importance of strategic coordination between the two countries, which he believes will invigorate China-Africa relations and drive common progress among Global South countries.
The leaders also witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering a range of areas including the Belt and Road Initiative, peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, human resource development, media exchange, and collaboration between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
Earlier in his visit, President Tinubu toured the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) where he praised the company’s contribution to Nigeria’s infrastructure development, particularly its ongoing railway projects.
He reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to completing key railway segments such as the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano line.
In a separate visit to Huawei Technologies’ Beijing Research Centre, President Tinubu was introduced to the company’s DigiTruck initiative, a mobile ICT classroom designed to enhance digital literacy in underserved Nigerian communities.
This initiative is expected to complement Nigeria’s ambitious plan to train 3 million technical talents, further aligning with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda that prioritizes digital technology as a key driver of economic growth.
Huawei also expressed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), aiming to position Nigeria as a hub for talent outsourcing in Africa.
This visit marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria-China relations, as both nations look to deepen cooperation across various sectors, enhancing their strategic partnership for mutual benefit.
Bello Wakili
