Cooperation will promote development peace, stability – Tinubu
By Olawale Lamina
The People’s Republic of China, PRC, has pledged to help build Nigeria’s infrastructure with a view facilitating sustainable sectoral development in ports and free trade zones,transportation for the West African country to achieve integrated development and connectivity.
The came to the fore as President Bola Tinubu informed his host that Africa holds vast opportunities for investments, growth, and development with its vibrant productive economy, and natural resources and a great population.
The pledge by was contained In a joint statement on Wednesday, between the Chinese government and Nigeria on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a High-Level China-Nigeria Community with a Shared Community with a Shared Future.
The statement also highlighted the fact that the two nations entered into cooperation to deepen infrastructure connectivity, particularly with China proactively supporting Nigeria in developing its domestic infrastructure construction, including transportation, ports, and free trade zones, towards achieving integrated development and connectivity for industries.
The statement harped on the need for joint efforts to fully support Nigeria’s geographical and development advantage in West Africa to establish Africa’s flagship projects on cross-national and cross-regional cooperation.
President Tinubu was invited to China by Xi Jinping to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The statement revealed that the two leaders had a warm discussion, with a comprehensive exchange on China-Nigeria relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest.
Tinubu and the president of People’s Republic of China also agreed that both nations were at the threshold of new beginning as significant representatives of major developing countries and emerging economies, while working on their strengthened strategic cooperation to propel new dynamics for China-Africa relations in the new era and lead the Global South to march together.
And, to consolidate mutual trust, expand cooperation, and strengthen coordination, the two Presidents agreed to upgrade the China-Nigeria relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and build a High-level China-Nigeria Community with a shared future.
The statement revealed that in building high-level strategic mutual trust, the two sides agreed among others to support each other on issues related to their respective core interests and major concerns, particularly sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Chinese counterpart extended its support to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria and the efforts made by Nigeria to maintain national unity, peace, security, and social stability, as well as promote economic development and improve people’s welfare.
The statement emphasized that, “The Nigerian side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, acknowledges that there is but one China in the world, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, declaring opposition to any form of ‘Taiwan Independence’ or interference in the internal affairs of China and firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification,” it stated.
Both sides spoke highly of the leading roles played by FOCAC in advancing the quality of cooperation between China and Africa over the past 24 years since the establishment of FOCAC.
They believed that the successful convening of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC opened a new chapter of unity and cooperation between China and Africa.
The two sides reiterated their firm support to each other in independently seeking a development path that suits their national interest and would further strengthen exchanges on experiences of governance, with Nigeria recognising that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have made great transformation through a Chinese path to modernisation, and subscribed to the opinion that the Chinese path to modernisation expands options of development and solutions of practices for mankind in seeking modernisation.
The two parties also commended each other’s efforts towards the prioritisation of sustainable development and economic growth through the implementation of various developmental initiatives aimed at achieving poverty alleviation and enhanced food security.Nigeria applauded and supported the vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI) proposed by President Xi Jinping, with both sides pledging to support each other’s efforts in multilateral affairs, including the UN, the G20 and BRICS, agreeing to support the increased calls for UN Security Council reforms with balanced geographical representation to reflect current geo-political realities.
They also agreed that human rights, including the right to development, are a common cause for all humanity and opposed the politicisation of human rights issues and interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
“China appreciates the efforts of Nigeria in enhancing regional peace and solidarity and promoting regional integration, with a strong emphasis on respecting democracy, good governance, and the rights of citizens.
“China supports the West African countries in addressing differences through friendly dialogue and consultations and to carry forward the regional integration. In this regard, China also urges other international actors to refrain from actions that could turn the region into a space for geopolitical contestation.”
Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in Beijing, President Tinubu called for a strategic focus on areas of collaboration that will ensure the relationship remains mutually beneficial.
Tinubu said: “Africa is a huge opportunity for economic development. As great people, we are willing to partner for progress and development.
“What is most important will be the focus of FOCAC in areas on which we can collaborate to make the relationship mutually beneficial to all of us.”
He appreciated the role of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in advancing partnership between Africa and China for mutual development and prosperity.
”The African spirit for FOCAC is based upon mutual respect and partnership that promotes development, happiness, peace, and stability for our people. We are in this journey together. We believe that we share common interests, which are investments and development.
”For me, as a Nigerian and as Chairman of ECOWAS, I am happy that the strategic partnership being promoted is acceptable to both sides and this is the way to go,” Tinubu stated.
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