President Tinubu Hails 50-Year Nigeria-China Partnership During Meeting With Chinese Envoy

President Bola Tinubu praised the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and China while receiving the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chen Xiaodong, in Abuja on Thursday.

Tinubu told the Chinese delegation at the State House, "For us, it is a new beginning with you. A relationship that has lasted over 50 years must be nourished, nurtured, and promoted. Our mutual commitment to the values of labor, understanding, and development is very important."

He went on to praise China's President Xi Jinping for consistently working on strengthening the country's relations with Nigeria and Africa.

"I am very happy that President Xi Jinping is paying attention to Africa as a whole and our developmental needs," as per the State House's official website.

"To classify us as a backwater economy, no matter how hungry we are, we will manage our hunger. We will be friends and partners with those who respect our values, and China is one of them."

The president also welcomed China's support for Nigeria's greater role in the G20, the UN Security Council and the BRICS group, which also included Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.

The president went on to thank Xi for his invitation to visit China. Tinubu commended China for going through phases of transformation and development, recalling his visit to a village in Shanghai.

"I once visited Shanghai when it was a village, and to see the rapid transformation, the technological development, is worth more collaborative efforts," he said.

"I am glad you appreciate my effort on Lekki Free Trade Zone, and we are doing very well. We need to establish more industrial parks across the country. Nigeria is blessed with mineral resources, and we have a lot of Chinese nationals around. We need to discuss more on that and promote cordial relationship for mutual benefits,'' the president said.

During the meeting, the Chinese Envoy said Tinubu was an "important leader and a strategist in Africa," adding that the Nigerian President's future China visit will open up more discussions and opportunities for Nigeria and Africa.

Last year, China's President committed to refinance and complete the Abuja-Kano and Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects.