By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, on Thursday, played host to the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, to discuss ways to deepen diplomatic ties and strengthen cooperation between the two nations.
Naijablitznews.com reports that the meeting focused on advancing peace, trade, investment, and mutual prosperity.
Ambassador Tuggar highlighted the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and China, which according to him, has been built on mutual respect, trust, and shared goals.
He commended China’s advancements in economic development, technological innovation, and global leadership,.and reiterated Nigeria’s is commitment to supporting the One-China Principle and strengthening collaboration on the international stage.
“Our cooperation has yielded fruitful results in various fields, including trade, investment, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange.
“Nigeria, too, is undergoing significant transformations, driven by our vision to become a more prosperous, peaceful, and democratic nation.
“Consequently, during our discussions, I look forward to exploring avenues to deepen our bilateral engagement, particularly in areas such as trade facilitation, capacity building, and people-to-people exchanges,” Tuggar stated.
He recalled the recent state visit by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to China in September 2024, during which four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed.
“Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to the terms of the MoUs, which are currently at various stages of implementation,” he affirmed.
Ambassador Tuggar further expressed confidence that ongoing discussions with China would yield meaningful outcomes, elevating relations between the two nations to new heights.
In his remarks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang emphasized the importance of Nigeria-China relations, describing Nigeria as “a major African country with global influence” and “an important member of the global South.”
Yi who stated that his visit aimed to strengthen bilateral relations and foster cooperation in key areas such as trade, investment, and infrastructure development, lauded Nigeria’s contributions to Africa’s peace and development and acknowledged the country’s role in promoting stability across the region.
“China has always viewed and developed relations with Nigeria from a strategic height and a long-term perspective,” Yi said.
He also reiterated China’s commitment to solidarity with Nigeria, particularly in areas of development and economic revitalization.
The visit aligns with China’s broader objectives under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and follows up on the commitments made during the FOCAC Beijing Summit.
Yi noted the success of the recent Intergovernmental Committee meeting in Beijing and acknowledged President Tinubu’s contributions to the summit.
“During his stay, Wang Yi is scheduled to hold high-level talks with government officials, discussing pressing global issues, regional security, and economic development,” the report added.
Wang Yi was received upon arrival by Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside other top Nigerian officials and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Yu Dunhai.
