China, Nigeria pledge to enhance Ties

President Xi Jinping expressed his commitment to deepen collaboration with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu during a high-level meeting at the Great Hall in Beijing.

The meeting, part of Tinubu’s state visit at Xi’s invitation, highlighted a mutual interest in enhancing the China-Nigeria relationship and advancing China-Africa cooperation.

The discussions came ahead of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, scheduled to take place in Beijing from September 4 to September 6.

Xi emphasized the successful diplomatic relationship established between China and Nigeria over the past fifty years, underscoring the mutual understanding and win-win cooperation that have defined their partnership.

Xi proposed upgrading the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, leveraging the forthcoming FOCAC summit to bolster China-Africa relations.

He reiterated his readiness to work with Tinubu to maximize the potential of the China-Nigeria cooperation.

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In response, President Tinubu, who is visiting China for the second time—having first visited as Lagos governor—expressed gratitude for the invitation.

He acknowledged the longstanding relationship between the two nations and the prospects for further trade and economic development.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering various areas, including Belt and Road Initiative projects, news exchange cooperation, and television collaboration.

Accompanying President Tinubu were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna, and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara, among other officials.