‘I’m a reformer with verifiable antecedents’ — Tinubu signs five MoUs at meeting with Xi Jinping

President Bola Tinubu says the relationship between Nigeria and China needs to be strengthened for trade advancement and economic development.

Tinubu spoke on Tuesday during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the capital of China.

The president said Nigeria-China ties have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Tinubu said his administration is reforming the Nigerian economy, adding that he is “a reformer with verifiable antecedents”.

The president said Nigeria “holds great potential as the country with the largest population in Africa”.

He added that the country’s young population can drive economic growth.

“This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS. I thank you for the high-level of honour accorded to us,” Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, quoted Tinubu as saying.

“Relations between China and Nigeria have indeed lasted for over half a century and should be further strengthened to advance our trade and economic development programmes.

“Nigeria holds great potential as the country with the largest population in Africa and is the biggest economy with a very young population that can drive economic growth and cross-sectoral programmes.

“We have upgraded the relationship to more than what is just strategic—but a comprehensive developmental partnership.

“This comprehensive strategic partnership should result in robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region. This is very crucial.

“We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform programme in Nigeria is on a similar course.

“I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents. We have recognized the need to reform our economy, and we are doing so diligently across tax and tariff reviews to various other segments of our nation’s economy.

“Trading and investment partners will have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out.”

On his part, the Chinese president said China and Nigeria’s relations will “inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries”.

“We have found the path of seeking collective strength through unity and win-win cooperation,” the Chinese president said.

“China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries,”

Ngelale said both presidents witnessed the signing of various memoranda of understanding (MoUs), which include a cooperation plan between Nigeria and China on jointly promoting the belt and road initiative.

Others are cooperation in the peaceful application of nuclear energy; strengthening cooperation on human resource development under the global development initiative; media exchange and cooperation; and a MoU between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

The two leaders also agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future.

Tinubu departed Abuja last Thursday for an official visit to China.

The president is also expected to attend the 2024 forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled to hold between September 4 and 6.