Nigeria is ready to provide counterpart funding on all agreements
reached with China for the provision of infrastructure that directly
improves the livelihood of Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari said
Thursday in Abuja.
Receiving Yang Jiechi, Special Envoy of the President of China, Xi
Jinping, at State House, President Buhari expressed deep appreciation
for China’s sustained and genuine efforts to improve Nigeria’s
infrastructure development, especially in the sectors of road, railway,
aviation, as well as power and water resources.
”Now that we have a government in place (with the Ministers), we know
the provision of infrastructure is very important. It (Infrastructure)
provides job opportunities and economic sustainability which are very
important for political stability,” the President said.
President Buhari also underlined Nigeria and China’s cooperation at the
international arena, saying: ”At the international level, we appreciate
the support we give to each other and very importantly this must be
sustained.”
”Nigeria is determined to play its role wherever China’s interest is
concerned,” the President said while appreciating China’s support for
Nigeria’s presidency of the 74th UN General Assembly.
On Lake Chad, the President emphasised the need for sustained support
from China on the recharging of The Lake, noting that Nigeria and
countries in the region have a lot to benefit from Chinese expertise and
technology on inter-basin water transfer.
”China has the technology, the people and the resources to help Lake
Chad Basin countries because not many people in the region appreciate
our problem of being near the Sahara desert and its influence on our
population and climate change, which is affecting over 20 million
people living there,” he said.
President Buhari also welcomed the offer by the Special Envoy for close
partnership between Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives
Congress and the Communist Party of China.
Delivering the message of President Xi, the Special envoy, who led a
high-powered Chinese delegation to the meeting, assured President Buhari
of China’s readiness to improve strategic partnership with Nigeria and
effectively implement the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit in 2018.
”China firmly supports Nigeria in pursuing a development path that
supports Nigeria’s national conditions. We have every confidence that
under Your Excellency’s able leadership, Nigeria will achieve even
greater success in its national development.
”During Your Excellency’s trip to China for the FOCAC Beijing Summit,
we had bilateral meetings and reached important agreements on our
bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.
”I highly value China’s ties with Nigeria and stand ready to work with
Your Excellency to enhance our political trust, jointly pursue Belt and
Road Cooperation, effectively implement the outcomes of FOCAC and
strengthen our coordination in regional and international affairs so as
to further enrich the strategic partnership between both countries,”
President Xi said.
The Chinese leader once again congratulated President Buhari on his
re-election.
With President Buhari at the meeting were Ministers of Finance, Budget
and National Planning, Power, Transport, Aviation, Industry, Trade and
Investment and Foreign Affairs.
The meeting discussed the status and implementation of several on-going
projects being undertaken by Chinese firms in the country including
railways, free trade zones, Mambilla Hydro-Power plant and four airport
terminals, among others.