China President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed his commitment to collaborate closely with President Bola Tinubu to enhance the China-Nigeria diplomatic relationship and promote China-Africa cooperation. This was announced during their meeting at the Great Hall in Beijing, where Tinubu was visiting at Xi’s invitation. The meeting comes ahead of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, taking place in Beijing from September 4 to September 6.
Xi stated that since establishing diplomatic ties half a century ago, China and Nigeria have treated each other with mutual understanding, seeking collective strength, unity, and win-win cooperation.
Xi proposed elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, citing the upcoming FOCAC summit as an opportunity to advance China-Africa relations.
He expressed readiness to work with Tinubu to fully unleash the exemplary role of China-Nigeria cooperation.
President Tinubu thanked Xi Jinping for the invitation, highlighting that this was his second visit to China—first as Lagos governor and now as president. He recognized the deep-rooted China-Nigeria relationship and the opportunities for enhanced trade and economic growth. The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering Belt and Road Initiative projects, news exchange, and television cooperation, among other areas.
