China-Nigeria Bilateral Relations Best Ever – Chinese President
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, on Wednesday described China-Nigeria bilateral relations as the best ever in the history of the two nations.
The Chinese leader made the remarks during his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari preparatory to the signing cooperation documents by the two presidents at the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Xi said: “Nigeria is a major African country and an essential partner to China in Africa” and as such he attached great importance to the development of China-Nigeria relations, which have reached a stage of growth unmatched in history.
This is even as he expressed his country’s appreciation to the Nigerian government’s commitment to the one-China policy and the readiness of China to continue its mutual understanding and support with the Nigerian side on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns.
Xi said that Nigeria was welcome to participate in the Belt and Road construction, adding that China is willing to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in fields such as infrastructure, agriculture and production capacity.
Other areas he listed for the purposes of deepening the two countries’ bilateral relations are, to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and support Nigeria’s economic and social development so that the bilateral cooperation can become a model for China-Africa cooperation.
Xi expressed his appreciation to the joint efforts by China and Africa which ensured that the summit was concluded successfully, further enriching the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.
He described the meeting as of historic significance to China-Africa solidarity and cooperation.
In his remarks, President Buhari congratulated China on the success of the FOCAC Beijing summit as well as gratitude to China for its concrete assistance to Nigeria’s economic and social development.
According to him, with China’s help, Nigeria obtained a light rail, the first of its kind in West Africa, which fully reflected China’s technology, quality and speed,
The Nigerian leader noted that the FOCAC had become an important platform for creating a brighter future for 2.6 billion African and Chinese, promising that Nigeria will work with other FOCAC members to implement the outcomes of the summit.
This is even as he assured that the Nigerian government appreciated the Belt and Road Initiative, which, he projected, would lay an important foundation for Africa and China to achieve win-win cooperation and common development.
President Buhari assured that Nigeria was willing to participate in the Belt and Road cooperation.
After the meeting, the two presidents witnessed the signing of cooperation documents.
