The president of China, Xi Jinping, has promised to strengthen economic ties with Nigeria, citing Nigeria’s significance to Africa and the globe.
President Bola Tinubu met with Peng Qinghua, the People’s Republic of China’s special envoy and vice chairwoman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), on Wednesday at the State House in Abuja.
Zhang Yi, a minister-counsellor, and Cui Jinachun, the nation’s ambassador to Nigeria, were part of the Chinese group.
In a statement released by Tunde Rahman, a Tinubu assistant, Qinghua claimed that the two nations currently have positive bilateral relations and economic cooperation.
He said that Chinese businesses were succeeding in Nigeria in the fields of free trade zones, hydropower, and highways.
The Chinese envoy praised Tinubu’s strategy for taking Nigeria into a new age of economic growth and prosperity but noted areas where Nigeria could gain from China.
He urged the president also to improve the environment for investment as he urged the two nations to exchange ideas and align their goals.
In response, Tinubu stated that Nigeria is open to trade and cooperative partnerships and would do business with any nation willing to do so.
He pledged that his administration will try to encourage business accessibility.
“We need accelerated growth and we are ready to do business honestly with those ready to do business with us,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
“We will continue to work to promote democracy in the West African sub-region. I’m a product of democracy and shall work day and night to advance democracy.
“We will fight terrorism and all forms of criminality. We can learn from each other, but we will remain non-aligned.”