The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for better bilateral cooperation and stronger ties between Nigeria and China, saying the two countries should work towards exceeding the current bilateral trade volume of $13 billion.
This is coming just as Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on the Chinese government to increase aid flows to Africa, particularly Nigeria, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and foster development.
Abbas made this known in Abuja on Tuesday when Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, visited him at his office in the company of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, and other officials of the Chinese parliament and embassy.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, the Speaker, noted that while the House has over 70 parliamentary friendship groups, the Nigeria-China Parliamentary Friendship Group has remained the most active and beneficial.
He said: “The bond between Nigeria and China is one of mutual respect, collaboration, and shared aspirations. Over the years, this partnership has yielded remarkable outcomes in trade, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and cultural exchanges.
“According to recent reports, the trade volume between our countries has surpassed $13 billion annually, making China Nigeria’s largest trading partner. This relationship has facilitated the growth of Nigeria’s economy through investments in critical sectors such as rail, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Speaker Abbas told the Chinese officials that the Nigerian Government, led by President Tinubu, remained committed to advancing Nigeria’s partnership with China.
But Akpabio, while hosting a Chinese delegation led by Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, said Nigeria and China must increase their ties.
The visit marked Qingwei’s first official trip to Africa, which Akpabio described as historic and full of potential.
“While China’s trade relations with Africa have continued to grow, I want to seize the opportunity offered by your visit to call on the Chinese government to increase aid flows to Africa, particularly Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
He noted a declining trend in aid pledges from China, citing the $60 billion commitment made during the 2015 Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as a benchmark for comparison.
The Senate President emphasised the need for a partnership that transcends trade, advocating for projects to uplift citizens and foster modernisation.
“Together, we can craft a legacy of cooperation that will echo through generations. Nigeria is a land of limitless opportunities—an expansive terrain filled with immense potential, rich resources, and a vibrant tapestry of culture.
“Your Excellency, let China join us in transforming Nigeria into not merely a market but a thriving hub of innovation, creativity, and boundless opportunity,” he said.
In response, Zhang Qingwei reaffirmed China’s dedication to strengthening ties with Nigeria.
He noted that his visit was a direct follow-up to the consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during Tinubu’s visit to China in September.
“Our visit aims to consolidate China-Nigeria friendship and mutual trust, enhance exchanges between our legislatures, and step up communications in various areas to elevate bilateral relations to a new height,” he said.
Qingwei expressed China’s goodwill toward Nigeria, stating, “As a good friend of Nigeria, China sincerely hopes Nigeria will achieve greater progress on its path of development and reforms.”
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