FG, China Formalise Belt, Road, Nuclear Cooperation

Nigeria and China have strengthened their bilateral relations by signing several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Beijing. The agreements were signed on Tuesday in the presence of President Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and cover a range of areas including the Belt and Road Initiative, nuclear energy cooperation, human resource development, and media exchange.
These MoUs were finalised ahead of President Tinubu’s participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), scheduled to take place from September 4-6, 2024. The signing of these agreements represents a significant advancement in the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale provided further details on the agreements, noting that they include:
A cooperation plan to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative,an MoU focused on the peaceful application of nuclear energy, an MoU aimed at enhancing cooperation on human resource development under the Global Development Initiative, and an MoU on media exchange and cooperation, including a specific agreement between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
These agreements are expected to deepen cooperation across various sectors, fostering economic growth and development.
During his visit, President Tinubu emphasised Nigeria’s potential as Africa’s largest economy, highlighting its young population as a driver of growth and trade opportunities. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ongoing economic reforms, inspired by China’s successful strategies under President Xi. “We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform program in Nigeria is on a similar course. I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents,” President Tinubu stated. He added that reforms, including tax and tariff adjustments, would create a more conducive environment for foreign investment and sustainable growth.
President Xi Jinping acknowledged the strong diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria, which have lasted over 50 years, and stressed the importance of enhancing strategic coordination to support China-Africa relations and collective progress among Global South countries.
Both leaders view this partnership as vital for strengthening China-Africa ties, with the upcoming 2024 FOCAC Summit serving as a platform to further solidify their cooperation and longstanding friendship.