Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on the peaceful use of Nuclear Energy and several other agreements aimed at elevating the existing relationship between the two countries.
President Bola Tinubu and his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing ceremony in Beijing where they made strong commitment to advance economic growth and development in the two nations.
President Tinubu who expressed admiration at Chinese approach to development reforms assured that his government was moving in a similar direction of China hoping to accelerate economic growth and improve lives.
The President is in Beijing, the Chinese capital on a State visit and will take part at the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which opens on Thursday.
“Nigeria remains committed to economic development, forthright non-aligned on the path to economic reforms that will engerder growth,” Tinubu noted.
Both China and Nigeria plan to elevate their existing ties to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Presidents Tinubu and Xi during a bilateral talk also agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future.
“This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the chairman of ECOWAS.
“Relations between China and Nigeria have indeed lasted for over half a century and should be further strengthened to advance our trade and economic development programmes,” Tinubi told the Chinese leader.
He continued that “Nigeria holds great potential as the country with the largest population in Africa and is the biggest economy with a very young population that can drive economic growth and cross-sectoral programmes.
”We have upgraded the relationship to more than what is just strategic — but a comprehensive developmental partnership.
“This comprehensive strategic partnership should result in robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region. This is very crucial,” President Tinubu said.
Tinubu told his Chinese counterpart that his administration remains committed to sustainable growth through the effective implementation of ongoing economic reforms.
”We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform programme in Nigeria is on a similar course. I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents.
”We have recognized the need to reform our economy, and we are doing so diligently across tax and tariff reviews, to various other segments of our nation’s economy.
”Trading and investment partners will have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out,” the President stated.
In his remarks, President Xi noted the strong mutual understanding between Nigeria and China since the establishment of diplomatic ties over the past 50 years.
”We have found the path of seeking collective strength, through unity, and win-win cooperation.
”China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination, will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries,” President Xi said.
According to the Chinese leader, the 2024 FOCAC Summit provides an opportunity to reflect on mutual friendships and advance the consolidation of China-Africa relations.
He pledged that China and Nigeria would continue to work closely within the FOCAC framework as a model of cooperation between nations.
Other Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) which signings were witnessed by the two leaders are Cooperation plan between Nigeria and China on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, MoU on strengthening cooperation on Human Resource Development under the Global Development Initiative, MoU on Media Exchange and Cooperation, and an agreement between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
