President Bola Tinubu met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, where both leaders announced the elevation of Nigeria-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This development was disclosed by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future. Tinubu, in his remarks, emphasized the significance of the visit, not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent, as he attended in his capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS. He highlighted the long-standing ties between the two nations, which have spanned over half a century, and called for further strengthening to enhance trade and economic development.
“Nigeria, with the largest population and the biggest economy in Africa, holds tremendous potential,” Tinubu stated. “This comprehensive strategic partnership should lead to robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region.”
Tinubu also assured President Xi of Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable growth through the ongoing implementation of economic reforms. He praised Xi’s economic reforms in China and noted that Nigeria’s reform program is on a similar path, focused on tax and tariff reviews and creating an investor-friendly environment.
President Xi acknowledged the strong mutual understanding between China and Nigeria since the establishment of diplomatic ties over the past 50 years. He emphasized that strengthening strategic coordination between the two nations would inject fresh momentum into China-Africa relations and promote collective progress among Global South countries.
Xi also pointed to the upcoming 2024 FOCAC Summit as an opportunity to further consolidate China-Africa relations, pledging continued close cooperation between China and Nigeria within the FOCAC framework.
