President Jiang's Nigerian Tour to Revitalize Bilateral Ties: Nigerian Ambassador

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 03, 2002

President Jiang's Nigerian Tour to Revitalize Bilateral Ties: Nigerian Ambassador

Chinese President Jiang Zemin's upcoming state visit to Nigeria will further promote bilateral relations, said Olagunju Adesakin, Nigerian ambassador to China recently. The ambassador noted that the relations between Nigeria and China have developed smoothly and cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields have expanded since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1971.

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Nigerian government welcoming Jiang's visit

Chinese President Jiang Zemin's upcoming state visit to Nigeria will further promote bilateral relations, said Olagunju Adesakin, Nigerian ambassador to China recently.

He said that the Nigerian government and its people are looking forward to Jiang's visit.

Good relations

The ambassador noted that the relations between Nigeria and China have developed smoothly and cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields have expanded since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1971.

Eight agreements and protocols are presently in operation between the two countries, he added.

Economic cooperation

Olagunju Adesakin said that Nigeria attaches importance to its economic relations and trade with China. He expressed the belief that there exist great potentials in such relationship.

The trade volume between the two countries was only US$178 million in 1996, and it amounted to US$1.144 billion in December 2001, he said.

He said during Jiang's visit, Nigeria expects to sign a trade agreement with China to initiate strategic joint-venture projects and to resolve problems existing in bilateral trade.

Political stance

The ambassador said that Nigeria and China have supported each other and cooperated in international affairs. They have shared similar views on many international issues and advocated the settlement of conflict through dialogue.

He reaffirmed that Nigeria will always adhere to the one-China policy.

He also expressed gratitude for China's support of Nigeria.

Efforts to improve bilateral relations

President Jiang sent a message to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to express sorrow at the explosion which occurred in Nigeria's largest city Lagos this January. The Chinese government donated emergency relief supplies worth 1 million yuan to Nigeria after the disaster, he said.

As the Nigerian ambassador to China, Olagunju Adesakin said that he has contributed greatly to improving Nigeria-China relations. He has visited over 30 provinces and cities throughout China to find out about the social, economic and cultural development of the country and to discover more areas in which the two countries can cooperate.

Bilateral Relations between China and Nigeria

Political relations:The People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971.Since then the bilateral relations have developed smoothly.

The twenty-eight years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria have witnessed the exchanges of a number of important visits between the two countries.

Economic cooperation: Up to now, China has set up over 30 solely owned companies or joint ventures in Nigeria. The main projects contracted or undertaken in the form of labor service by Chinese companies in Nigeria are the rehabilitation of Nigerian railway, the sportsmen hostel with the Abuja Sports Complex. China Geological Engineering Company, China Harbor Engineering Company (Group) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation are among the Chinese companies now operating in Nigeria.

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