Nigerian and China will open high-level economic discussions today in Beijing.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is leading the Nigerian delegation, arrived yesterday morning to the warm embrace of his hosts.
Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada on his X handle @DOlusegun, announced the president’s arrival yesterday morning.
The President is due to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.
Besides bilateral talks, President Tinubu, as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) chairman, will speak on behalf of the region in the multilateral talks between West African leaders and the Chinese President.
The President will conduct site visits to two major Chinese corporations; Huawei Technologies, as well as the China Rail and Construction Corporation (CRCC). This tour is to return focus to the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high speed rail line, one of the key objectives of this visit.
President Tinubu is due to meet with 10 selected chief executive officers of 10 major Chinese corporations with assets under management totalling over $3 trillion across multiple sectors of the economy, including information and communications technology, refining oil and gas, aluminium production, seaport construction, harbour construction and dredging services, financial services, satellite technology development, as well as many other critical sectors.
Some of the MOUs to be signed between the two countries are in areas of deepening cooperation in green economy, agriculture, satellite technology development, media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue economic development and national planning cooperation.
According to a statement prior to the trip by Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale: “Mr. President, would thereafter join the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, where several African heads of state will be present to engage with Chinese leaders on various important matters.
“At this FOCAC Summit, President Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and certainly would proceed to the high level peace and security plenary, where he will further deliver remarks on peace and security in the region and in Africa in his capacity as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This engagement is expected to yield very tangible, immediate and future dividends for the sake of the Nigerian economy and for the benefit of the Nigerian people and the President is placing a premium on deliverables, ensuring that this is not a talk-shop, but that this is something that will yield results for our people, justifying any expenditure that is made during the course of this trip”.
