International

China Calls on Developing Countries to Stand Up Against Bullies

Published

4 years ago

August 15, 2022

Ochuwa Ibrahim

China Calls on Developing Countries to Stand Up Against Bullies

By Michael Mike

China has called on developing countries all over the world to stand up against bullies.

Speaking at the weekend at the reception and opening ceremony of China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) 2022 for over 70 journalists in Beijing invited by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) to familiarize with China, the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying, lamented that recent visit of United States Speaker, Nancy Pelosi is an act of bully from America.

She noted that: “China’s development achievements over the past decades have been most impressive. To quote a poem, we have “been to the heavens for the moon and to the deep sea for the turtles”. Two female astronauts have traveled to space, a real-life version of Chang’e, a fabled Chinese goddess, flying to the moon. The high-speed rail network has shortened many long-distance travels across the nation into one-day trips. I doubt if the finest novelist could imagine ten or even five years ago the transformation taking place in China today.”

Chunying said. “Behind all these incredible achievements is an incredible political party — the Chinese Communist Party (CPC). Last year, we celebrated the centenary of the CPC. The CPC has grown from a small party with just over 50 members, to the world’s largest governing party with a 96-million-strong membership. Over the past century, the CPC has led the Chinese people to drive out the foreign invaders, end the fighting among warlords and the civil war, gain national independence, found a sovereign country, make foreign subjugation and hunger history, and build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The Party is now leading the country on a new journey toward a modern socialist country. Every Chinese is filled with pride about what the country has achieved, and fully supports the CPC. In fact, the CPC, for years, has an approval rating of over 90 percent.”

She added that: “The CPC is a people’s party. It represents the fundamental interests of the greatest possible Chinese people, and has never represented the interests of a particular interest group, power bloc or privileged class. From day one, the CPC has made pursuing a happy life for the people its founding mission. It follows a people-centered philosophy, and puts the people’s interests, needs and satisfaction above everything else.

“The CPC is a vanguard party. It is keen to learn from past practices. It keeps abreast of the times by developing new theories and strategies based on new situations. It pursues self-reform to seek continuous self-improvement. And it sticks to principles and has flexibility under different circumstances, confronting problems head-on and finding solutions to make things work.

“The CPC is an open and inclusive party. It is ready to share, to learn from all advanced things and engage with all for mutual success and shared progress.

“In the online comment from a young Egyptian (by the name of Ismail Bashmori), he likened China to the first member of the impoverished family of developing nations to go to university. He called on developing countries to help and support China to keep climbing to the top, as China is the first non-Western country to even come close to reaching a status of `ultimate global importance.

“His comment touched many Chinese, me included. China has all along been a member of the big developing country family, standing with each other through thick and thin. We shall never forget that it is our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa, and Latin America who helped restore the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations. Today, China is on a better footing. It will do its best to help, so that we all can have a better life.”

She recalled that: “As President Xi Jinping noted, in the world today, some are faring very well whereas some others are still struggling; this is not a good thing. Only when people all over the world enjoy better lives can prosperity be sustained, security safeguarded and human rights assured. Based on this belief, China has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. We hope to achieve common development through hard work. People in all countries are entitled to choose their own development paths, and deserve a better and happier life. Just as China believes that not a single Chinese should be left behind on the journey toward common prosperity, no country should be left behind in our common pursuit of greater development.

“Regrettably, some do not want to see this happen for people in other countries, especially the Chinese people. In recent years, the US and a few of its allies have gone out of their way to smear and bash China, using all means to suppress and contain China.

“But people of the world are clear-eyed. A recent `survey shows that 76 percent of young Africans see China as a positive influence on their life; the Arabic populations prefer China and China’s foreign policy is better received in the Middle East; countries in Asia also believe that China’s right to legitimately emerge as a major country should be respected.”

She said it was recently realized that all believed that developing countries are a key force in building a fairer and more balanced global order, and in promoting peace, security, equality and development, noting that they agreed that “unity and cooperation should be enhanced to build a better world that meets the needs and aspirations of the developing world. This shows that we developing countries have a common purpose, and our hearts are closely linked.”

She admitted that: “The world today still faces many risks and challenges, and we need to jointly respond with unity and cooperation. There is much unfairness and injustice, and we need to support each other in defending our interests. There is much bullying and hegemony in the media and propaganda, and we need to speak with one voice, louder and clearer.

She stressed that: “After decades of hard work, China has accomplished a lot in its development. But China remains the only major country yet to achieve complete reunification. And China still faces real threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as seen from the recent visit of US House Speaker Pelosi to China’s Taiwan region. The Chinese government and people have every determination and capability to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity. If even China cannot do this, what about other developing countries? If we do not hold the line now, who will be the next Iraq or Syria? As developing countries, we’ve all had the experience of being colonized and bullied. Therefore, we must stand together and support each other when those things we hold dear are under threat.”

China Calls on Developing Countries to Stand Up Against Bullies

International

Akande Presents Credentials to Swedish King, Sets Stage for Stronger Nigeria-Sweden Ties

Published

2 weeks ago

September 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Akande Presents Credentials to Swedish King, Sets Stage for Stronger Nigeria-Sweden Ties

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, Lola Akande, has formally assumed her diplomatic responsibilities in the Scandinavian country, presenting her Letters of Credence to King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

The ceremony, held on Wednesday, marked the formal accreditation of Akande as Nigeria’s representative to the Kingdom of Sweden and opened a new phase in bilateral engagement between the two countries.

Akande was accorded ceremonial honours, including a corps marshal and formal procession, in keeping with Sweden’s diplomatic traditions, before presenting her credentials to the Swedish monarch.

The presentation of Letters of Credence is a key diplomatic procedure through which a receiving state formally recognises an ambassador as the accredited representative of the sending country.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held in Akande’s honour at the Nigerian House in Stockholm, bringing together members of the diplomatic community, government officials, business leaders and Nigerians resident in Sweden.

Those in attendance included ambassadors and members of the African diplomatic corps, officials of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, members of the Corps of African Women Ambassadors, Swedish nationals, representatives of the Swedish business community and other invited guests.

The reception provided an opportunity to celebrate the ambassador’s accreditation and highlight the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Sweden, as well as opportunities to deepen cooperation.

Areas identified for enhanced engagement include trade and investment, innovation, cultural exchange and people-to-people relations.

Akande’s formal accreditation comes as both countries continue to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral ties, with expectations that her tenure will promote closer engagement between Nigerian and Swedish institutions, businesses and communities.

The development also signals renewed diplomatic attention to the Nigerian community in Sweden and the broader prospects for expanding cooperation between Africa’s most populous country and the Nordic nation.

Akande Presents Credentials to Swedish King, Sets Stage for Stronger Nigeria-Sweden Ties

International

NIS enrols 2,296 Nigerians in first week of UK passport intervention

Published

3 weeks ago

September 14, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

NIS enrols 2,296 Nigerians in first week of UK passport intervention

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has enrolled 2,296 applicants in the first six operational days of its Special Passport Intervention Exercise in the United Kingdom, with the Manchester Centre recording the higher number of enrolments.

The exercise, which commenced on September 7, 2026, recorded 1,709 applicants at the Manchester Centre and 587 at the London Centre, as Nigerians with confirmed appointments continued to turn out for passport services.

Daily enrolment figures across the two centres stood at 245 on September 7, 401 on September 8, 396 on September 9, 429 on September 10, 406 on September 11 and 419 on September 12.

The Service said the sustained turnout reflected steady progress in the processing of applicants with confirmed appointments, adding that passport production and dispatch for those already enrolled had commenced and were progressing steadily.

As part of efforts to ensure effective oversight and quality service delivery, the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, undertook working visits to the intervention centres in Manchester and London.

The visits, according to the Service, were aimed at assessing the exercise firsthand, engaging with members of the Nigerian community and ensuring that the intervention provided efficient, responsive and seamless passport services to applicants.

The NIS said the exercise would continue at both centres, assuring applicants with confirmed intervention appointments of service.

The Service said it appreciates members of the Nigerian community in the UK for their patience, understanding and cooperation, urging all applicants to continue working with officials on the ground to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of the intervention.

NIS enrols 2,296 Nigerians in first week of UK passport intervention

International

China’s $2.3bn Nigerian Buy-Up: Beijing Opens Bigger Market for Abuja

Published

1 month ago

August 28, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

China’s $2.3bn Nigerian Buy-Up: Beijing Opens Bigger Market for Abuja

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria may be on the verge of a major shift in its trade relationship with China as the Asian economic giant imported almost $2.3 billion worth of Nigerian goods in just six months, marking an almost 80 per cent increase over the same period in 2025.

The sharp rise, disclosed by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou,on Thursday in Abuja, comes as total trade between both countries surged by 75 per cent year-on-year to $18 billion.

The figures are significant for Nigeria, which has long struggled to translate its enormous agricultural, mineral and manufacturing potential into sustained export earnings.

Zhou, speaking at the Nigeria-China Food Festival at the China Cultural Centre, said Beijing’s zero-tariff policy for African countries with diplomatic relations with China presented Nigeria with an opportunity to dramatically expand its exports to the Chinese market.

“This is a great chance for Nigeria to expand exports to China,” the diplomat declared.

The statement effectively puts the spotlight on Nigeria’s ability to exploit preferential access to one of the world’s biggest consumer markets at a time when the Federal Government is under pressure to increase non-oil exports, generate foreign exchange and create jobs through expanded domestic production.

The nearly $2.3 billion already purchased by China from Nigeria in the first half of the year suggests that demand exists. The bigger question, however, is whether Nigerian producers can scale up production, meet international standards and consistently supply the Chinese market.

The latest development also gives fresh significance to efforts to diversify Nigeria’s trade beyond crude oil.

For decades, Nigeria’s export earnings have been heavily dependent on petroleum, while China has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most important trading partners. The latest figures indicate that the relationship is expanding beyond the traditional pattern of trade and could provide a platform for Nigerian agricultural products, processed foods, solid minerals and manufactured goods to gain wider access to China.

Zhou said the growing economic relationship was being matched by increasing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, noting that 2026 marks 55 years of formal diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.

He urged both countries to deepen cooperation in education, culture, technology, the arts and youth affairs, arguing that stronger people-to-people ties would help sustain the bilateral relationship for future generations.

The Chinese envoy’s remarks came against the backdrop of the Nigeria-China Food Festival, where food was used to demonstrate the potential of cultural exchange and the economic value of Nigeria’s culinary heritage.

Representing the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the Permanent Secretary, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, said Nigeria’s food industry represented a major economic opportunity, particularly through tourism, hospitality and job creation.

He said food and beverages constituted the largest subsector of Nigeria’s tourism economy and called for greater Nigeria-China collaboration in gastronomy, tourism, hospitality, culinary education and creative entrepreneurship.

The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Aare Abisoye Fagade, said Nigeria’s diverse culinary traditions could be transformed into a globally competitive food-tourism industry if properly packaged, standardised and commercialised.

The event also demonstrated the potential of cultural diplomacy, with Nigerian and Chinese artistes combining traditional Nigerian drums with Chinese percussion instruments.

The National Troupe of Nigeria’s Director-General and Artistic Director/CEO, Hajia Kaltume Bulama Gana, said such collaborations could deepen mutual understanding and open opportunities for Nigerian artistes to perform in China.

Former NIHOTOUR Director-General, Alhaji Munzali Dantata, who studied in Beijing decades ago, also urged stronger cooperation, particularly in education and cultural exchanges.

But beyond the colourful displays of food, music and culture, yesterday’s event highlighted a far bigger economic proposition: Nigeria now has an expanding Chinese market, and the scale of future gains will depend largely on what the country can produce and export.

With Chinese imports from Nigeria already approaching $2.3 billion in six months and bilateral trade reaching $18 billion, the emerging challenge for Abuja is to ensure that the growth translates into more Nigerian-made products, stronger local industries, foreign-exchange earnings and jobs rather than merely higher volumes of trade.

For Nigeria, the opportunity presented by Beijing’s zero-tariff policy could therefore become a test of whether the country can finally convert its vast productive capacity into sustained export power.

China’s $2.3bn Nigerian Buy-Up: Beijing Opens Bigger Market for Abuja