Nigeria and China Seal Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Amid Growing Economic Ties

Beijing, China – Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has hailed a landmark visit to Beijing, where he met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in a meeting that will pave the way for a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, both leaders agreed to upgrade their relationship, which has been in place for over half a century, to a comprehensive developmental partnership.

During the meeting, President Tinubu stressed the need to strengthen bilateral ties, which he said would be crucial for driving economic growth and development in the West African sub-region. He praised China’s economic reforms and assured President Xi of Nigeria’s commitment to similar reforms, promising to make Nigeria’s economy more attractive to investors.

"We have upgraded the relationship to more than what is just strategic — but a comprehensive developmental partnership," President Tinubu said. "This comprehensive strategic partnership should result in robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region. This is very crucial."

The visit comes at a time when Nigeria’s economy is looking to revamp its infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. China, on the other hand, has been investing heavily in African economies, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, energy, and manufacturing.

President Xi praised the strong mutual understanding between Nigeria and China, dating back 50 years. He highlighted the benefits of their growing partnership, stating that China and Nigeria will inject fresh impetus into China-Africa relations and spearhead common progress among Global South countries.

The two leaders also touched on the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, with President Xi emphasizing the need to consolidate their partnership within the framework.