The Chinese Government has pledged a grant of RMB200 million, equivalent to N40.3 billion, to support the implementation of development projects in Nigeria.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with Dr Dunoma Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja.
Yu said the grant “would support projects jointly agreed upon by the governments of the two countries as part of efforts to advance Nigeria’s development priorities.”
According to him, the grant is “part of China’s continued support for Nigeria’s national development and economic growth, and efforts to translate bilateral agreements into tangible benefits for the people.”
The envoy recalled that China-Nigeria relations have remained strong since the establishment of diplomatic ties 55 years ago.
“Over the past 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria, bilateral relations have consistently remained at the forefront of China-Africa relations,” Yu said.
He said the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership “has entered a new stage of high-quality development under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.”
Yu said both countries had “maintained close communication and coordination in implementing the common understandings reached by their leaders and the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit.”
“The objective is to ensure that cooperation between both countries is translated into concrete outcomes capable of improving the lives of their citizens,” he said.
“China and Nigeria have maintained close communication and coordination, working together to implement the common understandings reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit,” he added.
Responding, the permanent secretary expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government for its continued support for Nigeria’s economic and social development.
He said the grant demonstrated China’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development, and “reflected the longstanding friendship between the two countries.”
“The grant assistance fully demonstrates China’s sense of responsibility as a major country and reflects the deep friendship between Nigeria and China,” Ahmed said.
He assured that Nigeria would ensure “effective utilisation of the grant and work closely with China to implement existing bilateral cooperation agreements.”
He said Nigeria “remained committed to strengthening Nigeria-China relations and ensuring that bilateral cooperation produced greater benefits for the peoples of both countries.”
NAN reports that the meeting focused on the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, and ongoing efforts to implement the 2024 FOCAC outcomes.