Nigeria, China to sign agreement on defence, others

[Punch]

Bilateral relations between Nigeria and China will receive a significant boost next week with the signing of at least four major agreements between the two countries, the Presidency has said.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said this in a statement on Thursday.

Abati said the agreements would be signed  when President Goodluck  Jonathan leads a high-powered team of state governors, members of the National Assembly and key ministers on a five-day state visit to China which begins on Tuesday, July 9 2013.

The statement read in part, "The agreements which will be signed after high-level talks between President Jonathan's delegation and President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other senior Chinese government officials include an Agreement on Defence Cooperation between Nigeria and China.

"Others are: an Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation; an Agreement on Finance for the Zungeru Power Plant and Airport Terminals; and an Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.

"Also to be  tabled for discussion during talks between Nigeria and China in the course of President Jonathan's trip to Beijing will be an agreement for the Central Bank of Nigeria to invest in China's Inter-Bank Bond Market through the Peoples' Bank of China, and an agreement for the prevention of the theft, illicit import and export of cultural property.

"The successful conclusion of these agreements and other memoranda of understanding for increased bilateral cooperation in areas including the development of public infrastructure, oil and gas, power supply, agriculture, communications and tourism is expected to consolidate the already cordial political, trade and economic relations between Nigeria and China."

Abati said Jonathan would also seek additional Chinese investment for the Mambila Hydro Electric Project, rail modernisation, road construction and agricultural development.

He said in furtherance of his efforts to attract greater direct Chinese investment to the Nigerian economy, Jonathan would  on Thursday participate in a special session of the Nigeria/China Investment Forum which will be attended by leading Chinese investors and their Nigerian counterparts.

The President is also expected to hold separate meetings with the Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of leading Chinese conglomerates such as Huawei, SINOPEC and ZTE with the same objective in mind.

Before returning to Abuja on Saturday,  the President and his delegation is also expected to visit Daqing in China's Heilongjiang Province to confer with leaders of the Provincial government and tour the Daqing Petrochemical Industry and Agricultural Demonstration Farm.

According to the statement, Jonathan will be accompanied to China by Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.



The Punch

[Folami David]

It's good when 2 countries come together to do things like this. This would definately boost Trust issues amongst both of them. Very cool