The Nigerian government has asked China to remove trade tariffs for the country, just as it has done for 33 other African nations.
The request was made to improve economic cooperation and strengthen trade in key sectors.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the appeal when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, visited her office in Abuja.
She spoke about Nigeria’s long-standing ties with China and the government’s focus on economic growth under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
She pointed out that Nigeria is looking to China for support in various sectors, including electric vehicle production, digital communication, renewable energy, and agriculture.
She also acknowledged China’s role in Nigeria’s road and railway development.
The minister noted that Nigeria is working on improving its power sector and modernizing ports to attract investment.
She also spoke about the growing interest of Nigerian youth in learning Chinese, which has become important for global trade.
In response, the Chinese ambassador expressed his country’s willingness to strengthen ties with Nigeria.
He praised the strong relationship between both nations and noted that trade between them had exceeded $21 billion last year, with Nigerian exports to China increasing by over 25%.
He also mentioned the recent renewal of a $2 billion currency swap agreement between the two countries, which is expected to boost trade and investment.
Additionally, he reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Nigeria on the international stage and said China would continue providing grants to African nations without conditions.