The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, yesterday expressed his country’s eagerness to negotiate an Economic Partnership Agreement for Common Development with Nigeria.
This, according to Dunhai, is to ensure that both countries maximise the benefits of the China zero tariffs policy.
China recently announced a zero-tariff trading for Nigeria and other African countries.
Yu Dunhai spoke at the opening of the International Conference (West Africa) Second Post-FOCAC Abuja Forum, which centred on implementing the “Ten Partnership Actions” announced at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing.
The envoy said: “China stands ready to negotiate an Economic Partnership Agreement for Common Development with Nigeria as early as we can, in order to maximise the benefits from China’s zero-tariff policy, share development opportunities and achieve mutual revitalization goals.”
He added, “ In the past recent days, we have seen major projects of cooperation between China and Nigeria achieving remarkable progress: the lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State commenced operations, the Ajaokuta Steel Plant revitalization project advances steadily and the Abuja’s N16 main road and Greater Water Supply project completed. These developments underscore our strong economic complementarity and bright prospects for win-win cooperation.”
Speaking on the gains of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Dunhai said China and Africa have achieved significant progress in implementing the ‘Ten Partnership Actions’, with strengthened strategic mutual trust, deepened practical cooperation, and enhanced multilateral coordination.
These developments demonstrate that China-Africa cooperation rests upon a solid foundation, addresses broad shared needs, and possesses immense potential.”
The envoy noted that tangible progress had already been made in several strategic areas.
“In just nine months after the FOCAC Beijing Summit, China and Africa have achieved significant progress in implementing the ‘Ten Partnership Actions’, with strengthened strategic mutual trust, deepened practical cooperation, and enhanced multilateral coordination.
“These developments demonstrate that China-Africa cooperation rests upon a solid foundation, addresses broad shared needs, and possesses immense potential,” he noted.
