On the afternoon of September 3, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and a state visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the elevation of China-Nigeria relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Xi Jinping pointed out that Nigeria is a major and highly influential African country with a large population and great development potential. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than half a century ago, China and Nigeria have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, and forged a path of self-strength through unity and win-win cooperation. In recent years, the two countries have jointly implemented a large number of demonstration and strategic cooperation projects within the FOCAC framework. China is further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which will bring more opportunities for the development of China-Nigeria relations. Both sides should work together to achieve their own modernization through high-quality cooperation and push for greater development of China-Nigeria relations.
Xi Jinping stressed that the two sides should enhance strategic mutual trust, view and develop bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns. The two countries need to seek greater synergy of development strategies, form a new pattern of practical cooperation featuring complementarity and mutual benefit, promote the interconnected and integrated development of infrastructure, energy and minerals with industries, and create new growth areas for cooperation such as the digital economy and new energy. Xi Jinping expressed his hope that Nigeria will protect the safety of Chinese personnel and projects in Nigeria. He called on the two countries to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and enhance mutual understanding. China supports Nigeria in countering terrorism, maintaining regional stability and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is ready to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation with Nigeria to jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries.
Xi Jinping pointed out that FOCAC is not only an effective mechanism for promoting practical cooperation between China and Africa, but also a banner for South-South cooperation. China is ready to take the FOCAC Beijing Summit as an opportunity to review the historical experience of China-Africa friendship, promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, and inject new momentum into the development of China-Africa relations in the new era.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu said that he was delighted to visit the beautiful China and thanked the Chinese side for their warm hospitality. He said, Nigeria-China relations have lasted for more than half a century and bilateral cooperation has promoted Nigeria's economic development. He fully agrees with President Xi Jinping's view of Nigeria-China relations. Nigeria has a large young population and huge development potential. China has made great achievements in reform and opening-up, and Nigeria is also carrying out reform and opening-up. Deepening economic cooperation and developing a comprehensive strategic partnership between Nigeria and China are very important to Nigeria's future development. Nigeria hopes to become China's largest trade and investment partner in Africa and welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in the country, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, minerals, energy, infrastructure and other fields, helping Nigeria and West Africa advance modernization efforts and effectively eradicating poverty. Nigeria is willing to provide sound security conditions for these endeavors. He thanked the Chinese side for providing important training opportunities for Nigerian youth and expressed willingness to deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the Chinese side. Nigeria firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to work with China in continuing to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests. Nigeria looks forward to close communication and coordination with China to make the FOCAC Beijing Summit a complete success.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation plan, promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, economic development, application of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, peanut exports to China, and news media, among other fields.
The two sides issued a Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a High-level China-Nigeria Community with a Shared Future.
Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping hosted a welcoming ceremony for Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi was present at the above activities.
