Nigeria admitted on Thursday that its bilateral collaboration with the People’s Republic of China has yielded considerable achievements in a variety of areas, including commerce, investment, infrastructure development and cultural exchange. Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, confirmed the news when hosting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Abuja.
Tuggar praised China’s remarkable achievements in economic development, technical innovation, and global leadership. He also mentioned that Nigeria is going through a transformation, fuelled by its desire to become a more affluent, peaceful, and equal country. The minister highlighted Nigeria’s readiness to pursue additional prospects for strengthening bilateral engagement with China, notably in trade facilitation, capacity building, and people-to-people interactions.
Tuggar underlined his government’s commitment to carrying out the four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) made with China at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in September 2024. The foreign minister boasted, “Nigeria is committed to the terms of the MoUs, which are currently in various stages of implementation.” Importantly, our connection has progressed from a strategic collaboration to a comprehensive strategic alliance,” Tuggar stated.
“I am optimistic that our conversations will produce substantial results and create a brighter future for our country and its people. Let us work together to take Nigeria-China relations to new heights,” he said. Responding, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised Nigeria as a key African country with worldwide importance, emphasising its invaluable contribution to the continent’s stability and development.
Wang, who also serves on the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, stated that both countries will continue to understand and assist each other on topics of mutual interest and profit. “Under the guidance of our two Presidents, we have achieved substantial progress in our cooperation, delivering tangible benefits to our people,” Wang Yi told the press. He added that his tour is intended to continue the Chinese foreign minister’s tradition of visiting Africa as the first abroad trip of the new year.
“It is also an opportunity to discuss with my African counterparts how to implement the important common understandings reached at the FOCAC Beijing meeting, particularly the ten partnership actions, and to add new substance to our comprehensive strategic partnership,” he told journalists. Wang Yi’s tour of African countries began on January 5, 2025, with stops in Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and Chad before ending in Nigeria.
