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The Federal Government on Friday assured delegates from the China National Development and Reform Commission of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to a greater relationship with the Asian giant following the agreement reached by both countries.
The Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, gave the assurance while addressing a delegation of the Chinese Government in Abuja.
The development comes one month after the president appointed Tegbe, a 1988 first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, as the head and global liaison for the partnership.
While receiving the team, the Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria highlighted the need for both countries to work together in the areas of Infrastructure, Energy, Mining, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Education and Technology.
He said, “Nigeria aims to expand the bilateral relationship from commerce to a mutually-beneficial development partnership involving industrial collaboration and knowledge exchange.
“There is also a need for our countries to establish a clear communication mechanism in pursuit of mutual goals as envisaged in the partnership.”
Reacting, the leader of the Chinese delegation, Mr Zhang Huanteng noted that further to the agreements reached by the presidents of the two countries in September, they were in Nigeria for the official presentation of the Memorandum of Understanding.
“We are here to formally present the signed agreements and highlight the priority areas of the Chinese Government, as stated in the three-year development plan.
“We also invite the Nigerian delegation to a follow-up meeting to discuss and agree on the details of the agreement in Beijing,” Huanteng stated.
Welcoming the delegation, the Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu thanked them for their hospitality to the Nigerian delegation that visited China earlier in September.
He recalled that five agreements were signed with the China National Development and Reform Commission driving three of the agreements.
“The Belt and Road initiatives has listed priority projects and collaborative platforms which Nigeria is fully committed to.
We believe the appointment of Mr Joseph Tegbe to lead the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership underscores the importance which President Tinubu gives to the agreements, as Tegbe comes on board with immense experience,” he stated.
Continuing, the minister assured the Chinese delegation that the new DG would brief the President on the progress made so far for the two countries to schedule subsequent meetings to finalize grey areas and put timelines to each initiative.
He concluded by saying the Federal Government of Nigeria looks forward to a greater, mutually beneficial relationship with China, adding that the Ministry would continue to work hand in glove with the coordinating office to ensure the achievement of the stated
