The Chinese government has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu, describing them as producing tangible results and urging the country to sustain the policies beyond 2027.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, stated this during a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at her office in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The envoy cited growing trade between Nigeria and China, improved macroeconomic conditions and increasing investor confidence as indications of progress, expressing his country’s readiness to deepen its investments in Nigeria.
He disclosed that trade volume between the two countries had reached $18 billion in the first half of the year, while Nigeria’s exports to China had also recorded significant growth in recent years.
According to him, the developments underscored the importance of sustaining the ongoing reforms to consolidate the gains recorded and strengthen Nigeria’s economic prospects.
Dunhai said China would continue to support mutually beneficial partnerships with Nigeria, guided by the principle that Africa’s natural resources belong to Africans.
He added that his country would prioritise high-quality investments and the use of local human capital as part of efforts to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations.
The visit, his first to the First Lady since assuming office in Nigeria two years ago, was also aimed at conveying China’s support for the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and exploring areas of collaboration through the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative.
The ambassador identified health, education and food security as priority areas in which both countries could expand cooperation.
Responding, Oluremi Tinubu welcomed China’s expression of confidence in the administration’s reforms, describing the support of a longstanding international partner as encouraging.
She particularly commended China’s interest in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including proposed collaboration on the application of technology to improve food production and strengthen food security.
The First Lady pledged to encourage cooperation between the Chinese government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to advance the initiative.
“When friendship has transcended this long, it begins to yield results, and we are beginning to see the results now,” she said.
She added that the government remained committed to improving the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians, expressing optimism that stronger bilateral cooperation would support efforts to lift more citizens out of hardship.
“We are looking for how the vulnerable ones would be lifted. We know this will help us a lot,” she said, adding that Nigerians needed to embrace the country’s ongoing transformation.
Nigeria and China elevated their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024 during President Tinubu’s state visit to China, creating a framework for expanded cooperation across economic, diplomatic and development sectors.
