There may be a lot widespread floor between China and Nigeria, and between our two peoples. China is the second largest financial system and one of the vital populous international locations on the planet, whereas Nigeria is a serious financial system and probably the most populous nation in Africa. Each of our international locations are blessed with huge lands, historic histories, wealthy pure assets, a number of ethnic nationalities and splendid cultures. Each the Chinese language and Nigerian folks cherish peace and yearn for growth.
On 10 August, I departed from Beijing and landed in Abuja, from a metropolis close to the western facet of the Pacific, to a capital adjoining to the japanese facet of the Atlantic, and began my journey because the fifteenth Chinese language Ambassador to Nigeria, with a lofty mission and nice pleasure in my coronary heart. Upon arrival on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport, I deeply felt the hospitality of the Nigerian folks and their friendship with China, which boosted my confidence in my tenure within the coming years.
There may be a lot widespread floor between China and Nigeria, and between our two peoples. China is the second largest financial system and one of the vital populous international locations on the planet, whereas Nigeria is a serious financial system and probably the most populous nation in Africa. Each of our international locations are blessed with huge lands, historic histories, wealthy pure assets, a number of ethnic nationalities and splendid cultures. Each the Chinese language and Nigerian folks cherish peace and yearn for growth. They’re each hospitable folks, and deal with one another as brothers. In the meantime, the first of October is China’s Nationwide Day and Nigeria’s Independence Day, respectively. Though separated by oceans, the 2 international locations and two peoples are intently linked by these similarities. Due to this fact, for the reason that institution of diplomatic ties on 10 February, 1971, our relationships have stood the take a look at of modifications within the worldwide panorama and gone from power to power. Moreover, over time China-Nigeria relations have stood on the forefront of China-Africa relations.
In 2018, our two international locations signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the Belt and Street Initiative (BRI), and Nigeria joined the Belt and Street household. In October, 2023, Vice President Shettima attended the Third Belt and Street Discussion board for Worldwide Cooperation in China on behalf of President Tinubu, which was a whole success. In June this yr, International Minister Yusuf Tuggar visited China and held talks with HE Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Social gathering of China and minister of International Affairs. The 2 international ministers co-chaired the primary plenary session of the China-Nigeria Intergovernmental Committee, which additional promoted the political mutual belief and mutually useful cooperation between our two international locations.
Individuals-to-people friendship holds the important thing to state-to-state relations. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve developed nearer cultural exchanges. We have now established cultural centres in one another’s capital and Chinese language and Nigerian universities have co-founded two Confucius Institutes in Nigeria, and Nigerian folks’s enthusiasm for studying the Chinese language language retains on rising. The variety of Nigerian college students studying in China has reached its peak at greater than 7,500…
Upon arrival in Abuja, I witnessed its trendy worldwide airport that was constructed by a Chinese language enterprise. The airport is simply one of many quite a few flagship initiatives constructed by Chinese language corporations by way of China-Nigeria cooperation, which embrace the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Abuja Metro Line, the Lagos Rail Mass Transit, the Zungeru Hydropower Plant, the Nationwide Knowledge Centre in Kano, and the Lekki and Ogun industrial parks, and many others. The initiatives stand as a testomony to the fruitful outcomes of China-Nigeria sensible cooperation and the friendship between our two peoples. Nigeria is China’s third largest buying and selling accomplice in Africa, with bilateral commerce amounting to $22.56 billion in 2023. The nation can be China’s second largest export market and a serious funding vacation spot in Africa, and the variety of initiatives contracted by China in Nigeria ranks first in Africa. That includes monumental potential and a brilliant future, the sensible cooperation between China and Nigeria serves as a task mannequin of top quality Belt and Street Cooperation.
Individuals-to-people friendship holds the important thing to state-to-state relations. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve developed nearer cultural exchanges. We have now established cultural centres in one another’s capital and Chinese language and Nigerian universities have co-founded two Confucius Institutes in Nigeria, and Nigerian folks’s enthusiasm for studying the Chinese language language retains on rising. The variety of Nigerian college students studying in China has reached its peak at greater than 7,500, and a lot of Nigerian residents are doing enterprise in China. We have now co-hosted with the Nigerian facet a collection of cultural occasions such because the “Pleased Chinese language New 12 months” Temple Truthful, the Chinese language Movie Competition and the “Chinese language Bridge”– the Chinese language Proficiency Competitors, which have all largely introduced our hearts nearer. I’m anticipating extra Nigerian pals to pay visits to China and act because the envoys connecting China-Nigeria friendship.
China and Africa get pleasure from a long-standing friendship. Within the Sixties and Nineteen Seventies, regardless of its financial hardship, China constructed the world-renowned Tazara Railway for its African brothers. In 2013, President Xi Jinping put ahead the rules of sincerity, actual outcomes, amity and good religion for China’s Africa coverage. Over the previous many years, China and its African pals have stood collectively in weal and woe within the face of modifications within the worldwide panorama and joined fingers to fulfill challenges. Bearing in mind African international locations’ yearn for modernisation, President Xi Jinping proposed, in 2023, the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialisation, the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernisation, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Expertise Growth respectively, accelerating Africa’s integration and modernisation.
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Once I handed by the majestic Zuma Rock, it jogged my memory of the Nice Wall of China. Each of them signify the nationwide character of tenacity possessed by our two peoples and symbolise our friendship. I stay up for assembly extra Nigerian pals from authorities our bodies, the Nationwide Meeting, the enterprise neighborhood, the media, think-tanks, and many others., visiting totally different states in Nigeria, and gaining extra insights into its historical past, ethnic cultures and native customs.
In September this yr, the Summit of the Discussion board on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will probably be held in Beijing, throughout which Chinese language and African leaders will collectively plan future China-Africa growth, after the earlier summit held six years in the past. At the moment we’re actively making ready for President Tinubu’s state go to to China and his attendance of the Summit in September, together with our Nigerian colleagues. I’m assured that with our joint efforts, President Tinubu’s go to is definite to deepen our cooperation in such fields as business, agriculture, infrastructure, financing, poverty discount, technological innovation, digital growth and the blue financial system, upgrading and increasing the depth and width of China-Nigeria cooperation, and bringing extra advantages to our two peoples. President Tinubu, because the chairman of the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS), may even talk about with Chinese language and African leaders about China-Africa cooperation and growth.
In July this yr, the third plenary session of the twentieth Communist Social gathering of China Central Committee was efficiently held, with the adoption of an essential decision which included greater than 300 essential reform measures. The measures are aimed toward additional deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese language modernisation. China strives for modernisation by way of a path of peaceable growth. The nation will leverage the strengths of its monumental market and improve the capability to open up by increasing worldwide cooperation. China’s growth performs an essential position for the soundness and prosperity of a multi-polar world. We may even proceed to assist Nigeria’s social and financial growth with concrete actions, and share our growth advantages with the nation.
Once I handed by the majestic Zuma Rock, it jogged my memory of the Nice Wall of China. Each of them signify the nationwide character of tenacity possessed by our two peoples and symbolise our friendship. I stay up for assembly extra Nigerian pals from authorities our bodies, the Nationwide Meeting, the enterprise neighborhood, the media, think-tanks, and many others., visiting totally different states in Nigeria, and gaining extra insights into its historical past, ethnic cultures and native customs. With the assist of my like-minded Nigerian pals, I’ll make my utmost efforts to contribute to the resilient relations between China and Nigeria, to the profound friendship between our two peoples, and to the constructing of a high-level China-Nigeria neighborhood with a shared future.
Yu Dunhai is the Ambassador of the Peoples’ Republic of China to Nigeria.
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