President Bola Tinubu
and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday, 3 September, 2024 in
Beijing, China, announced the elevation of Nigeria-China ties to that of a
comprehensive strategic partnership.
The leaders also agreed
to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future.
This was the outcome of
talks between the two leaders during President Tinubu’s official visit to
China.
President Tinubu’s
official visit precedes his participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled to hold from September 4-6, 2024.
''This is an important
visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the
Chairman of ECOWAS. I thank you for the high-level of honour accorded to us.
''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.
''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.
On economic reforms in
Nigeria, President 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.
During the meeting,
both presidents witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding
(MOUs) on various areas of mutual interest which are Cooperation plan between
Nigeria and China on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, Memorandum
of Understanding on cooperation in the peaceful application of Nuclear Energy, Memorandum
of Understanding on strengthening cooperation on Human Resource Development
under the Global Development Initiative, Memorandum of Understanding on Media
Exchange and Cooperation, and Memorandum of Understanding between China Media
Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
Earlier, on Monday in
Beijing, President Tinubu visited the China Railway Construction Corporation
(CRCC), during which he acknowledged the company's role as a reliable partner
in Nigeria's infrastructure development programme, commending its ongoing
railway projects in the country.
''It is equally very
important that we give assurances to the Nigerian people across our local
communities that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway segments will be
completed and done to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large.
''We will support your
investment in solid minerals and other ventures in Nigeria. I am here to assure
you that Nigeria is ready to do business with you,'' the President said during
a meeting with the Chairman of CRCC, Mr. Dai Hegen, following a tour of the
CRCC and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) office in
Beijing.
Mr. Hegen informed the
President that CRCC has been involved in Nigeria for 43 years, implementing
over 300 projects and training over 100,000 local workers.
''The Abuja-Kaduna
Railway and Lagos-Ibadan Railway have transported approximately 9 million
passengers and 180 tonnes of cargo. The Lagos blue line has transported over
1.6 million passengers,'' he said.
In a separate
engagement, President Tinubu visited Huawei Technologies' Beijing Research
Centre, where the company announced the launch of DigiTruck, a mobile ICT
classroom aimed at enhancing digital literacy in underserved Nigerian
communities.
During the President's
meeting with Huawei's leadership, led by Mr. Liang Hua, Chairman of the Board
of Directors, the company said the initiative would operate in 10 states
annually, training at least 3,000 students each year.
Acknowledging the
ongoing efforts by Nigeria's Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital
Economy to train 3 million technical talents (3MTT) and equip the country's
young population with the skills necessary for present and future economic
opportunities, Huawei's leadership said the DigiTruck initiative will
complement the programme.
Mr. Hua praised the
President's Renewed Hope Agenda for identifying digital technology as a
critical driver of economic growth.
"This is very
encouraging for us. Huawei is fully prepared to offer its ICT expertise and
become a reliable partner of the Nigerian government to support the country in
achieving its policy objectives and furthering its digital, intelligent, and
low-carbon development."
Also speaking, Mr.
Chris Lu, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Nigeria, expressed support for
Nigeria's National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), an initiative that seeks to
position Nigeria as a hub for talent outsourcing in Africa.
"In the future, we
hope to continuously develop the NOC and expand its capacity so that it can
meet the requirements of more African markets, thus facilitating more Nigerian
technology talents in serving more overseas' markets and helping to achieve the
goal of NATEP," Mr. Lu said
During the tour of the
Huawei Research Centre’s exhibition hall, President Tinubu and his delegation
were introduced to Huawei's latest innovations in e-government, smart
education, smart grid, and solar power, demonstrating their potential to
enhance public services, digital governance, and Nigeria's inclusive
development agenda.
As part of the efforts
to achieve the aforementioned goals, Huawei also plans to establish a joint PV
test lab with Nigeria's Rural Electrification Agency (REA).