Following his recent trip to France, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to travel to the People’s Republic of China in the first week of September.
This visit is part of the current administration’s efforts to enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians, according to Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Key Objectives of the Visit
During his trip, President Tinubu will engage in several significant activities aimed at fostering stronger economic and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and China.
Meeting with President Xi Jinping:
President Tinubu will meet with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements will focus on deepening cooperation in areas such as green economy, agriculture, satellite technology development, media enterprise development, and blue economic development.
Engagement with Chinese CEOs:
The President will meet with ten Chief Executive Officers of major Chinese corporations, representing sectors including oil and gas, aluminum production, agriculture, and satellite technology. These companies have assets totaling over $3 trillion US dollars.
Site Visits:
President Tinubu will conduct site visits to Huawei Technologies and the China Rail and Construction Corporation (CRCC). This is aimed at advancing the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high-speed rail line, a key agenda item for the President.
FOCAC Summit:
The President will participate in the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, where he will represent the West African bloc ECOWAS as its chairman. At the summit, he will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and engage in high-level discussions on peace and security.
Economic and Security Discussions
The visit is expected to yield tangible benefits for the Nigerian economy and people. President Tinubu will discuss matters of mutual interest, including economic cooperation, national, regional, and international security issues. The engagement is designed to be result-oriented, ensuring that the trip is not merely a “talk-shop” but one that will deliver concrete outcomes for Nigeria.
Context of the Visit
The trip comes at a time when there is a rift between Nigeria and a Chinese firm over an alleged breach of contract, which led to the seizure of a presidential aircraft. Despite this, the visit underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen their bilateral relations.
This state visit to China is a significant step in President Tinubu’s foreign policy agenda, reflecting his administration’s focus on economic development and international cooperation.
