Nigeria to Strengthen Ties With China: Nigerian PresidentNigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said Wednesday his country is willing to maintain and develop friendly relations of cooperation with China, expressing thanks to China for its long-term assistance to Nigeria.President Obasanjo made the remarks when meeting with General Chi Haotian, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor and minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China. He expressed the hope that the peoples and armies of the two countries will further strengthen relations in the new century Chi said both Nigeria and China are playing important roles in regional or international affairs and hold similar or same views on major regional and international issues. He said the bilateral ties have made stable and sustainable progress and cooperation in various fields has been continuously expanded since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1971, adding that with joint efforts, the two countries will further develop and strengthen their bilateral ties. Chi said China appreciated it very much that Nigeria maintains the One China policy regarding its reunification with Taiwan. Chi arrived in the Nigeria capital Abuja on Tuesday at the invitation of the Nigerian Defense Ministry. His trip to Nigeria is the last stop of his Latin American and African five-nation visit, including Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cote d'Ivoire. |
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