ABUJA, Jan 6 (NNN-IRIN) – Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, met with visiting Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi yesterday, with both sides pledging to promote bilateral cooperation on all fronts.
Buhari asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Chinese President, Xi Jinping.
Buhari said, over the past 50 years, Nigeria-China relations achieved constructive results and Nigeria is very satisfied with the progress of bilateral relations.
At a time when the oil price was falling and Nigeria was facing difficulties in development, thanks to China’s strong support, Nigeria effectively alleviated problems, such as underdeveloped infrastructure and insufficient food supply, with China playing a very important role in Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The Nigerian government will remain committed to promoting the all-round development of Nigeria-China relations, said Buhari.
Wang first conveyed President Xi’s cordial greetings to Buhari. Wang said, the two heads of state established good mutual trust and profound friendship, which played a strategic guiding role in the development of China-Nigeria relations.
For 30 years in a row, China started its annual foreign exchanges with Africa, and this year is no exception. China is ready to work with Africa, to meet challenges and overcome difficulties due to COVID-19, said Wang.
Nigeria, as a major African country, has always occupied an important position in China’s diplomacy with Africa. The most important experience of the past 50 years, since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria has always been mutual understanding, mutual trust, and mutual support.
Wang thanked Nigeria for siding with China, on issues concerning China’s core interests. China will also continue to firmly support Nigeria, in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and support Nigeria in playing a bigger role in regional and international issues.
Wang said, with joint efforts of both sides, China-Nigeria cooperation achieved fruitful results. China will continue to help Nigeria build infrastructure, in accordance with its development needs, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Nigeria, and carry out cooperation in free trade parks, so as to boost Nigeria’s industrialisation process and enhance its capacity for independent development, said Wang.
China is ready to share digital economy and technology with Nigeria, carry out green economy cooperation, and jointly tackle the challenge of climate change. China is ready to work with Nigeria to give full play to the role of intergovernmental committee of the two countries, push forward all-round cooperation and further promote bilateral relations, said the minister.
Following the talks, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding, on the establishment of the China-Nigeria Intergovernmental Committee.
