Bauchi, Chinese Province Sign MoU To Promote Investment

The Bauchi State government in North East Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shandong Province of China to promote trade and investment, build industrial  capacity, boost green energy  to enhance low carbon as well as improve food security  and fight poverty.

The Bauchi State governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, who signed the agreement on behalf of the state,  promised to deepen cooperation with Shandong province  in his address on Monday during the 2023 World Cities Forum and Regional Leaders Summit, which was held in Jinan, the capital  city of Shandong province with the theme “ Green Development, Low Carbon Life”.

Governor Mohammed, who led a strong delegation  of entrepreneurs, noted that China has demonstrated  friendship and fraternity towards Africa and the rest of the world with massive investment  in infrastructure, agriculture, ICT and cultural exchanges. He added that investment  in green energy will help to reduce the impact of climate change and address the issue of poverty.

He said “ we are here to formalise our sister relationship with the Shandong province. At the beginning  of such a relationship, I see the prospect of an enduring friendship and a mutually  beneficial relationship for our sister states and people”.

The governor, who gave assurance of his government’s  commitment and reciprocity  said “ we are ready to do business because we believe  in the sincerity of the  Chinese.”

“Nigeria and China had shared a relationship  of mutual respect with Nigeria being China’s third largest trading partner in Africa and China being Nigeria’s largest source of imports. The renewed commitment towards  improving the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, has most recently been bolstered with major  sectors  witnessing development driven by strategy and investment” the governor added.

He expressed hope that the relationship between Bauchi state and  the Shandong province will proactively push for the growth of a two-way trade and investment  by leveraging their advantage and complementary industries, technologies and market opportunities.

Earlier  in his opening address, the Secretary of the Communist  Party of China(CPC) Shandong Provincial Committee and Chairman  of Standing Committee of the Shandong provincial People’s Congress, Lin Wu, in his opening statement, said the summit is to promote prosperity  of all peoples and strengthen  the bond of friendship to boost business  and investment for mutual  benefits.

The summit was also  attended by Benjamin Chesire Cheboi, the Governor  of the Baringo County in Kenya; Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape of South Africa;  Paulette Bethel, the Ambassador  of Bahamas to China; Kang Byungsam, Mayor of Jaju in the Republic  of Korea.

Others include Yan Dong, the Vice President  of the Chinese Peoples Association  for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Li Jie, the Vice President of the Chinese People’s Institution for Foreign Affairs and Chen Yuming, Vice President of the China’s Public Diplomacy Association among others.

The Forum brought  together different  cities, states and provinces of the world  to promote friendship, mutual cooperation and interaction among communities across the world regardless of their differences.