Abuja: Nigeria and China on Wednesday in Abuja reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral relations between them. Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, said this in a statement following a courtesy visit to his office on Wednesday in Abuja by the Chinese Embassy’s Charg© d’Affaires, Mr Zhou Hongyou.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ebienfa stated that both sides reaffirmed at the meeting the shared commitment of Nigeria and China toward deepening diplomatic engagement, enhancing institutional cooperation, and expanding people-to-people exchanges for mutual benefit. He noted that they underscored the depth of Nigeria-China relations, emphasizing the need to advance cooperation between the two countries in trade, infrastructure development, and strategic partnership.
Ebienfa further mentioned that Zhou described Nigeria as one of China’s most significant partners in Africa, highlighting the visible Chinese-supported projects across various sectors of the Nigerian economy. The meeting also focused on promoting reciprocal visits, study tours, and exposure programs to enhance mutual understanding. These initiatives include short-term and specialized training programs in governance, administration, strategic communication, and public diplomacy.
Reference was made to training initiatives coordinated by Chinese academic institutions, particularly Peking University, aimed at promoting experience-sharing among developing countries. The ministry’s spokesman also announced plans by the Chinese Embassy to commemorate the Chinese New Year, as well as the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Both sides concluded an agreement to coordinate a media engagement on February 10, coinciding with the activities marking the anniversary, to reinforce public understanding of Nigeria-China relations.