The Federal Government says President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to China and Nigeria’s participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has led to the strengthening of bilateral and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
This comes as Tinubu concluded his recent visit to the Asian country on Friday.
In a statement on Saturday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, rolled out some of the agreements between the two countries.
The Minister, speaking on the outcomes of the visit and the joint statement issued by both countries stated that “China appreciates the efforts of Nigeria in enhancing regional peace and solidarity and promoting regional integration, with a strong emphasis on respecting democracy, good governance, and the rights of citizens.
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“China supports the West African countries in addressing differences through friendly dialogue and consultations and to carry forward the regional integration. In this regard, China also urges other international actors to refrain from actions that could turn the region into a space for geopolitical contestation.”
Furthermore, Tuggar opined that “China commends Nigeria’s leading role in ECOWAS and its efforts towards bringing stability to the region, it supports Nigeria to play a strong leading role in the regional affairs including the fight against terrorism and managing differences. The two sides agreed to stay committed to safeguarding peace, security, and stability in the region, including the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea.”
According to the Minister, the two presidents agreed that their strengthened strategic cooperation will propel a new dynamic for China-Africa relations in the new era and lead the Global South to march together. He further stated that the two Presidents have agreed to upgrade the China-Nigeria relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and build a High-Level China-Nigeria Community with a shared future to consolidate the existing mutual trust, expand cooperation, and strengthen coordination.
Tuggar noted that the two sides agreed that, over half a century since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, both countries have shown respect to each other and treated each other as equals.
“The relationship between the two countries has withstood the test of international changes, the mutual trust has been enhanced continuously, practical cooperation has yielded fruitful outcomes, and the two countries have embarked on a path of seeking strength through unity for a win-win cooperation.
“The two sides reaffirmed their firm support to each other on issues related to their respective core interests and major concerns, particularly sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese side supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria, and the efforts made by Nigeria in maintaining national unity, peace, security and social stability, as well as promoting economic development and improving people’s welfare.
“The Nigeria side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, acknowledges that there is but one China in the world, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”
He added that the two countries will seize the opportunities of developing productive forces to further deepen overall reform, jointly explore cooperation in areas such as digital economy, green development, blue economy and agricultural modernization, and foster new growth drivers in cooperation.
“Nigeria welcomes the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and Global Initiative on Data Security proposed by the Chinese side and appreciates China’s efforts in promoting the rights of developing countries in artificial intelligence, network, data, and other fields.”
The two sides also agreed to deepen cooperation on the infrastructure connectivity between the two countries, according to the Minister.
“China proactively supports Nigeria in developing its domestic infrastructure construction including transportation, ports and free trade zones towards achieving integrated development connection for industries.
“The Two sides will make joint efforts to fully support Nigeria’s geographical and development advantage in West Africa to establish Africa’s flagship projects on cross-national and cross-regional cooperation,” the statement added.
