President Xi Jinping has expressed his commitment to deepening diplomatic ties and cooperation between China and Nigeria during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Great Hall in Beijing.
Tinubu’s visit, at the invitation of Xi, precedes the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, scheduled from September 4 to September 6 in Beijing.
During the meeting, President Xi highlighted the strong diplomatic relationship between China and Nigeria, which has spanned over 50 years.
He emphasized the mutual understanding, unity, and win-win cooperation that have characterized the relationship, proposing to elevate the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi also noted the upcoming FOCAC summit as a pivotal moment to enhance China-Africa relations further.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, expressed gratitude for the invitation, recalling his previous visit to China as the governor of Lagos State and now as President of Nigeria.
He acknowledged the enduring China-Nigeria relationship and the potential for enhanced trade and economic development between the two nations.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the Belt and Road Initiative projects, news exchange cooperation, and television collaboration, among other areas.
President Tinubu was accompanied by key officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State.
