The Chinese president spoke through his special envoy, Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairperson, Standing Committee of National People’s Congress, People’s Republic of China who met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday.

Qinghua said the two countries at present had good bilateral relations and economic cooperation, noting that Chinese companies were doing well in Nigeria in railways, roads, hydropower and free trade zones.

While commending President Tinubu’s plan to lead Nigeria to a new era of economic development and prosperity, the Chinese envoy, however, said there were areas where Nigeria could benefit from China.

He called on the two countries to share ideas and align strategies, urging President Tinubu to also create more conducive environment for investment.

Responding, President Tinubu said Nigeria was open for business and constructive partnerships, and would do business with any country ready to do business with it.

He promised that his administration would work to promote ease of doing business.

He said: “We need accelerated growth and we are ready to do business honestly with those ready to do business with us.

“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 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.”

The Chinese delegation included her Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun and Minister-Counselor Zhang Yi.

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Adesina stated this on Friday in State House, while receiving the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, CUI Jianchun and the new Deputy Chief of Mission/Ministerial Councilor, Zhang Yi.

Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Adesina thanked the Chinese government for sustained efforts to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure development in several areas including power, rail, and aviation, among others.

‘‘President Buhari has very great respect for China. Many times he has spoken about the support from China and he deeply appreciates it. President Buhari and President Xi Jinping share respect and friendship.

‘‘Nigeria appreciates the mutual cooperation with China and we pray that diplomatic relations will continue to be strong and mutually beneficial. President Buhari has visited China twice and also participated in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting in South Africa,’’ the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said.

Responding to alleged misrepresentation of One China policy in some section of the Nigerian media, Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity told the Chinese Ambassador:

‘‘The things you read in the press (Nigerian) concerning One China Policy are not a representation of the Federal Government policy on One China policy.

‘‘Nigeria’s Constitution is written in a way that allows freedom of expression in the media.’’

Shehu stressed that what is important in the Nigeria-China relations is that Nigerian government recognize and support the One China policy.

The ambassador explained his 5goal Nigeria-China Gdp Strategy, pegged around political consonance, economic cooperation, military collaboration, international coordination and people communication.

On the economic front, Jianchun, who has spent 17 months in Nigeria, pledged that China would continue to prioritize investments in railway, road, ports, electricity, ICT, oil and gas, agriculture, mining, among others, across the country.

On the 700MW Zungeru hydroelectric power plant under construction in Niger State, the Chinese Ambassador said his government was deeply committed to its completion and operationalization soon.

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According to a statement by Mr Bolaji Kazeem, the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit in the ministry, on Wednesday, Dingyadi spoke when he received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Cui Jianchun.

Dingyadi noted that the entire world was aware of the current security challenges in Nigeria, but stressed the need for collaboration to address them.

He listed those challenges as terrorism and banditry in the North East, North West and North Central with secessionist movement, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the South East.

According to him, Nigeria is not the only country facing these problems in Africa as its neighbouring countries also share in these problems.

He said that with the support of the international community those problems would be solved.

Dingyadi, however, noted that the issue of security challenges could not be separated from poverty and unemployment.

He added that the federal government was intensifying efforts to address them through its poverty alleviation programmes.

He said that the government had created opportunities for youths in the various sectors of the economy to curb a drift to criminal activities.

The minister said that steps were being taken to boost the morale of security personnel and motivate them to ensure professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

He said that the process to reactivate the CCTV project under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, through the selection of concessioner among the private organisations that did bid for the project had begun.

Dingyadi said that the country would work closely with the international community to promote infrastructure, security and investment in Information and Communication Technology, ICT.

According to him, the idea is to create more employment opportunities, strengthen security and reduce poverty.

The minister stressed the need for collective responsibility in securing lives and property through sharing of information and intelligence with the security agencies for better response to security challenges.

Earlier, the Chinese Ambassador noted that China and Nigeria had maintained diplomatic relationship for more than 50 years, adding that there was need to improve on the bilateral relations and intelligence sharing.

Jianchun also said there was the need to build strategies for both countries to work together in the areas of politics, economy, military cooperation, ICT, security and infrastructure.

Source: NAN

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