Partnership with China is Gradually Positioning Nigeria as Economic Gateway to Africa- Chinese Envoy

By: Michael Mike

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has said that the partnership between China and Nigeria is positioning the West African nation as a critical economic gateway for Africa.

Speaking at a seminar on “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Achieve the Ten Partnership Actions in an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” Ambassador Yu noted that significant progress has been made in implementing the ‘Ten Partnership Actions’ since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last September.

The ‘Ten Partnership Actions’ encompass cooperation across ten critical areas, including cultural exchange, trade facilitation, industrial chain integration, infrastructure connectivity, sustainable development, public health, agriculture advancement, people-to-people bonds, green economy transition, and security cooperation.

These initiatives aim to catalyse the cause of China-Africa modernization and elevate the China-Africa community with a shared future to new heights.

The Chinese government has announced measures to expand its openness and collaboration with Africa, including extending zero-tariff treatment for 100% of tariff lines to all 53 African countries with diplomatic relations, enhancing access to exports from Africa’s Least Developed Countries, and promoting cooperation in green industries, e-commerce, and payment systems.

Yu said: “When the 2.8 billion-plus people in China and Africa unite in purpose and stride forward hand in hand, we will achieve glory on our paths toward modernization.”

He noted that the partnership between China and Nigeria has elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, stating that as two major developing countries, their relationship now transcends bilateral dimensions and is gaining growing global significance.

Yu also said China stands ready to work hand in hand with Nigeria, support each other through thick and thin, jointly advance the ‘Ten Partnership Actions’ for China-Africa cooperation in modernization and implement the initiatives of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of FOCAC.

He said: @Together, through our joint efforts, we will surely write a new chapter of the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

Also speaking, the Director-General/Global Liaison of Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Tegbe, disclosed that the level of partnership with China is positioning Nigeria as the critical economic gateway for Africa.

He said: “After FOCAC 2024, Nigeria and Peoples Republic of China elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This marks the beginning of a dispensation where we are determined to work better and closer with the Peoples Republic of China.

“It marks a period when we are no longer satisfied with maintaining
mere relationships; but strive to build robust development partnerships that are based on mutual trust and respect, shared ambition, and collaborative efforts.

According to him, “It signals our Government’s serious intent to not only sustain but to deepen bilateral cooperation in ways that are systematic, accountable and aligned with Nigeria’s long-term development agenda.”

The DG noted that the broad aim of his office is to strengthen bilateral relations through trade, investment, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and capacity building.

“This partnership aligns with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and seeks to position Nigeria as a critical hub in Africa, fostering long-term sustainable development and economic growth.

“Drive Nigeria’s socio-economic growth by leveraging China’s advanced technology, expertise in infrastructure, and capacity for investment. Align with Nigeria’s national development priorities, such as the Renewed Hope Agenda to the BRI.

He outlined that the partnership for Trade Prosperity reflects China’s commitment to zero-tariff access for least-developed countries, including 53 African states.

“This is an unprecedented gesture by a major economic power and positions Nigeria to exploit China’s vast consumer market, especially in agriculture, manufacturing and digital trade.”

“This action was implemented about a week ago by the Government of China who removed tariffs on exports from 53 African countries, including Nigeria. Our strategy is to leverage this opportunity in our drive to become a net exporter to China like Brazil.”

Earlier, the Director of Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, Prof Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, said China and Africa have rejected colonialism, imperialism and subjugation of any kind by the colonial forces that drained Africa of resources, seized its human potentials and ensured dependency and
underdevelopment of the continent.

“Today Africa is coming out of the gloomy days, in its cooperation with China, Africa is, for the first time assured of the beacon of true modernization and development, through: first, building mutual trust, mutual assistance, mutual learning, exchanges and common development.

“This rapid mutual chemistry and mutual assistance cought the attention of the international community, which marked the surfacing of China in global governance, poverty reduction, industrialization, taking path to modernization and investing in African development.

He maintained that China accorded $5 billion in 2006 to African countries, $10
billion in 2009, $20 billion in 2012, $60 billion in 2015, S60 billion in 2018, $40 billion in 2021, and $50.7 billion in 2024.

“These are for investment, aid, credit lines and ultimately African modernization, growth and development. Chinese President Xi Jinping in September, 2024, posited that, China stands ready to work with Africa, to implement the 10 partnership action plans and to jointly advance modernization.

“President Xi believes that: “One-third of the world’s population lives in China and Africa, and there will be no global modernization without the modernization of China and Africa.”

“The 10 partnership action plans, to be implemented in the next three years. cover the areas of mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, green development and common security.

“The 2024 FOCAC summit focused on the above ten partnership actions for modernization, aiming to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.” He said.

Partnership with China is Gradually Positioning Nigeria as Economic Gateway to Africa- Chinese Envoy