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Nigeria, China Urged to Forge Strategic Partnership
Nigeria and China should forge new basis of strategic partnership in order to push their ties forward in a wholly new circumstances, a prominent Nigerian scholar has said.
Nigeria has a long pro-west tradition due to its colonial past, which only sees a short break during the years of military ruler Sani Abacha, said Professor J. O. Akinboye with the University of Lagos on Friday.
Following the economic sanctions against the Abacha regime led by the United States and Britain, the Nigerian government had adopted a more balanced approach between the east and west in making its foreign policies.
But with the takeover of the elected civilian government in May 1999, and resumption of aid from the west, it is no surprising that the country reappeared a strong tendency to return to that pro-west tradition, the scholar in Political Science told Xinhua.
Nigeria wants the west to reduce or cancel its 30 billion US dollar external debts, it also hopes the west could help it privatize its economy, said the professor, who had been in the US for many years as Fulbright scholar.
But the much strengthened pro-west stance does not necessarily means a minus for the Nigeria-China relations, he said.
The trade between the two countries is increasing rapidly, making China one of the top 10 trade partners with Nigeria. And Chinese businessmen also show growing interests in investing in Nigeria, the most populous and the largest oil-producing country in Africa.
Politically, Nigeria is trying to play a leading role in Africa and intensifies its bid for the permanent membership in the UN Security Council. Nigeria needs China' s support in all these areas, said Akinboye.
"I hope both China and Nigeria could carefully foster these positive elements in their ties, and build a sounder ties in the years to come," he added.
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