President Bola Tinubu is set to arrive in Beijing, China, on Sunday morning for a five-day official visit aimed at strengthening economic ties and attracting investments to Nigeria.
The visit marks a significant step in fostering cooperation between Nigeria and China, focusing on various critical sectors.
Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, had noted that Tinubu’s visit to China will follow a brief layover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), after departing Abuja.
The visit will see President Tinubu engaging in high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The two leaders are expected to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) that will enhance cooperation between the two nations in key areas such as green economy, agriculture, satellite technology development, media enterprise development and promotion, blue economic development, and national planning.
Additionally, the discussions will cover broad topics of mutual interest, including economic cooperation, national and regional security, and pressing global issues.
The statement added that the Chinese government is fully prepared to host President Tinubu upon his arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Sunday morning.
According to Ngelale, “Mr. President will also meet with his Chinese counterpart in the person of President Xi Jinping, where several MOUs will be signed. The MOUs will involve agreements in deepening cooperation, in green economy, in agriculture, in satellite technology development, in media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue economic development and national planning cooperation.
“This is going to be part of a broader engagement where the two heads of state will discuss matters of mutual interest across, not just the economy, but also on issues of national, regional and international security.”
The President will also pay site visits to prominent Chinese corporations, including Huawei Technologies and the China Rail and Construction Corporation (CRCC), to fast-track the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high-speed rail line.
President Tinubu will also engage in strategic meetings with 10 chief executives of major Chinese corporations, boasting assets under management totaling over $3 trillion USD, across various sectors, including ICT, oil and gas, aluminium production, seaport construction, financial services, and satellite technology development.
The visit, Ajuri stated, is expected to yield immediate and long-term benefits for the Nigerian economy and people, underscoring the President’s commitment to economic growth and development.
He further stated, “President Bola Tinubu, will depart for the People’s Republic of China, most specifically, Beijing, from the nation’s capital within the first week of September, to engage in a series of meetings and activities with immediate and future benefit to the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian people.
“First and foremost, His Excellency, Mr. President, will conduct site visits to two major Chinese corporations; Huawei Technologies, as well as the China Rail and Construction Corporation, (CRCC). This is with a view to achieve one of Mr. President’s top agenda items, which is the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high speed rail line.
“Thereafter, Mr. President, will meet 10 selected chief executive officers of 10 major Chinese corporations with assets under management totalling over $3 trillion US dollars across multiple sectors of the economy, including information and communications technology, refining oil and gas, aluminium production, seaport construction, harbour construction and dredging services, financial services, satellite technology development, as well as many other critical sectors.”
The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will hold in Beijing from Wednesday, September 4 to Friday, September 6.
The conference with the theme “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”, will be a significant event, with leaders from China and Africa gathering to discuss modernization and building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
President Tinubu, as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will join other African leaders at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit and will deliver key remarks on behalf of the region, addressing critical matters of mutual interest between China and Africa.
The President will also participate in the high-level peace and security plenary, where he will share Nigeria’s perspective on regional and continental security challenges.
Ngelale added, “Mr. President, would thereafter join the FOCAC Summit, where several African heads of state will be present to engage with Chinese leaders on various important matters.
“At this FOCAC Summit, President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and certainly would proceed to the high level peace and security plenary, where he will further deliver remarks on peace and security in the region and in Africa in his capacity as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This engagement is expected to yield very tangible, immediate and future dividends for the sake of the Nigerian economy and for the benefit of the Nigerian people and the President is placing a premium on deliverables, ensuring that this is not a talk-shop, but that this is something that will yield results for our people, justifying any expenditure that is made during the course of this trip.”
