Nigeria and China have strengthened their strategic association after high -level diplomatic participation in Changsha, China.
This was revealed at the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the implementation of the results of the Forum on Cooperation of China-Africa (FOCAC), which saw the inauguration of new economic initiatives for Africa.
Directed by Nigeria Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, and the General Director of the Strategic Association of Nigeria-China, Joseph Tegbe, the Nigerian delegation participated in the Forum and the Exhibition of Economic and Commercial Commerce of China-Africa, where Nigeria served as a guest of honor.
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The commitment indicates a strategic impulse of Abuja to take advantage of the new Chinese political directions for African nations, particularly in trade, green industry and technological innovation.
The meeting, which was attended by more than 100 ministerial level officials and African ambassadors, reviewed the progress in the commitments of the Beijing Summit of Focac 2024.
Central for discussions were the “six proposals for joint modernization” and the implementation of the “ten association actions”, a framework introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping to remodel China-Africa cooperation.
In a congratulation letter read at the opening of the forum, President XI reaffirmed China's commitment to the development of Africa and announced new radical initiatives, which include: the expansion of the zero rate where China will now extend the treatment of the rate zero to 100% of the rates lines for all 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Beijing; Access to the improved market: special support will be provided to countries (LDC) less developed in Africa, relief access to the vast Chinese market; Sector associations: China promised deeper cooperation in strategic areas such as green technology, electronic commerce, artificial intelligence, finance, security and the rule of law, in order to promote industrialization and growth in innovation in Africa.
For Nigeria, these measures present an opportunity to accelerate the objectives of economic reform and industrialization of renewal under the renewed agenda of hope of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in Changsha, Foreign Minister, Tuggar, said that Nigeria is “ready to work more closely with China, not only as a partner but as a strategic ally in the delivery of economic transformation and sustainable development.”
He added that several Chinese companies had expressed interest in investing in the industrial, agribusiness and digital infrastructure of Nigeria.
The Chinese government extended a high -level reception to the Nigerian delegation, with senior officials, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and the province of Hunan, Governor Mao Weiming, maintaining bilateral discussions with the visiting team.