National Telescope national telescope newspaper
President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Tuesday, announcing the elevation of Nigeria-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The two leaders also agreed to establish a high-level Nigeria-China community focused on a shared future.
The meeting, part of President Tinubu’s official visit, sets the stage for his participation in the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, scheduled from September 4-6.
Tinubu highlighted the visit’s significance for Nigeria and Africa, emphasising Nigeria’s potential due to its large, youthful population and economic strength.
In his address, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, drawing parallels with China’s successful economic transformation.
He assured that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms, including tax and tariff adjustments, would improve the investment climate.
President Xi praised the 50-year partnership between Nigeria and China, underscoring the importance of continued strategic coordination to advance China-Africa relations and progress among developing nations.
He expressed commitment to enhancing cooperation within the FOCAC framework.
During the visit, several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed, covering: Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative; Peaceful application of nuclear energy; Human resource development under the Global Development Initiative; Media exchange and cooperation and Collaboration between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority
Earlier, President Tinubu visited the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), praising its role in Nigeria’s infrastructure development, including ongoing railway projects.
CRCC has been active in Nigeria for 43 years, delivering over 300 projects and training more than 100,000 local workers.
Additionally, at Huawei Technologies’ Beijing Research Centre, the company introduced DigiTruck, a mobile ICT classroom to boost digital literacy in underserved Nigerian communities.
Huawei plans to operate DigiTruck in 10 states annually, training 3,000 students each year. The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal to train 3 million technical talents.
Huawei also plans to establish a joint photovoltaic test lab with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to support Nigeria’s renewable energy efforts.
