On Wednesday, China’s President Xi Jinping met with Vice President Bola Tinubu in Beijing for a bilateral meeting.
According to Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s media aide, the Chinese president guaranteed additional investment in Nigeria’s power generation and digital economy, as well as safety for Chinese people working in Nigeria.
He stated that in turn, he will make the Nigeria-China bilateral relationship stronger than before.
According to the statement, President Jinping stated that China would strengthen political support and collaboration in all spheres, and he thanked Nigeria for its support of the One China Policy.
”Pledging to further deepen practical cooperations, the Chinese leader threw his weight of support behind the Renewed Hope Manifesto of President Bola Tinubu and his 8-point economic agenda, adding that China will support Nigeria’s exports, especially as it relates to peanuts and others, even as the China – Africa talent initiative remains key in its cooperation with Nigeria.
”In the area of security, President Jinping promised continued crackdown on terrorists, assuring categorically that China is committed to peace in the Sahel region, more so that its long-standing military trainings and MoUs on joint exercises remain sacrosanct.”
He was quoted as saying:
“Mr Vice President, you spoke about up-scaling and further upgrading of our strategic relationship, and I totally agree with you. Nigeria is developing with big potentials. I totally agree with you. Our foreign Ambassadors can stay and work out this upgrading”.
Earlier, Vice President Shettima, who delivered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s best wishes, said:
“Our relationship commenced about 50 years ago, precisely in 1971 and it has been upgraded to a comprehensive partnership but we crave your indulgence, Your Excellency, to further upgrade this relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership because of the importance we attach to our relationship with China.
“When we met in South Africa at the China Plus 1 summit, I was very honest and upright with you. Beyond the infrastructural support we are getting, why we love, cherish and respect China is that you treat us with respect and dignity.
“You don’t dictate to us who our friends are. We don’t forget our friends. China stood by us through thick and thin from the post-colonial struggles for independence in Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, the struggle for the emancipation of our people in Southern Africa; China stood shoulder to shoulder with the African continent, we thus appreciate your friendship.”
