The Chinese government has said Nigeria remains Africa’s major country with global influence and an important member of the global South.
The Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Wang yi, who stated this in Abuja on Thursday when he met with his Nigerian counterpart, Yusuf Tuggar, praised Nigeria’s role in Africa’s peace and development.
The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang yi, who is in Nigeria for a two-day official visit said part of his mission is to fastrack the implementation of the FOCAC Beijing meeting’s common understandings, particularly the 10 Partnership actions.
Yi reaffirmed the importance of Nigeria-China relations and noted that China has always viewed and developed relations with Nigeria from a strategic height and a long-term perspective.
He expressed China’s commitment to furthering solidarity and cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in pursuing development and vitalization.
The Chinese Foreign Minister further pointed out the achievements of Nigeria-China cooperation, citing the success of the Inter-governmental Committee meeting in Beijing and President Tinubu’s visit to China for FOCAC Beijing Summit.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening relations with China and assured his guest of Nigeria’s commitment to supporting the One-China-Principle and continued support for China at the international stage.
Tuggar emphasised that Nigeria’s diplomatic relationship and continuous collaboration with China had been free from disputes, which had brought substantial benefits to both countries.
The Nigerian Foreign Minister also acknowledged China’s remarkable progress in economic development, technological innovation, and global leadership and expressed Nigeria’s desire to learn from China’s experiences and to deepen bilateral engagement in areas such as trade facilitation, capacity building, and people-to-people exchanges.
The two countries have agreed to formalize the upgrading of their relations from a strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
