Jonathan’s visit to China not a junket – Presidency

[Punch]

The Presidency on Monday said President Goodluck Jonathan's five-day state visit to China is not a junket as some people may claim.

Rather, it said the trip which will include 13 ministers in the President's entourage was in the strategic national interest of the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly before the President left the country.

Abati also faulted insinuations in some quarters that the trip was planned to spite United States President, Barrack Obama, for refusing to visit Nigeria during his recent trip to Africa.

He said, "China is a very important country. China is the largest market in the world with its 1.35 billion people. China is also the world largest creditor nation. China is also the largest importer and exporter of goods and it is a large consumer of primary commodities, including crude oil. In fact, after the US, China is the largest importer of crude oil in Nigeria.

"So, it is in our strategic national interest to have very good relationship with such a country. Nobody can call this trip a junket.

"The claim that the China trip is a respose to the fact that Obama did not come to Nigeria is also not true because this trip was planned one year ago. Every country has the right to determine where they go.

"We have excellent relationship with  the US and the truth of the matter is that nobody can overlook America. But China is also an important partner. China has shown a lot of interest in Africa in the last few years.

"Nigeria is a major trading partner with China. We have over 30 Chinese companies operating here."

The presidential spokesman explained that Jonathan will use the opportunity of the trip to strengthen the bilateral relations between China and Nigeria, adding that China is Nigeria's strategic bilateral partner and both countries have enjoyed very robust relationship.

He added that since the Chinese President was just taking over in the country, the trip will also provide the President an opportunity to reach out to key players in China and have opportunity for the two leaders to establish rapport.

He added, "What Nigeria is interested in is long term sustainable relationship between the two countries. The third leg of the trip is that China is a major trading partner in Nigeria. Last year alone, China imported about 80,000 metric tons of cassava chips.

"China has shown a lot of interest and support for the President's determination to diversify the nation's economy. So you find China supporting our agricultural programme.

"Part of the purpose of this trip is also to encourage China to invest more in Nigeria; foreign direct investment. The emphasis is not necessarily on loans although during this trip, there are two concessionary loans that will be considered in relation to the Zungeru Hydro Power Project and one other.

"More than that, there will be agreements  and MoUs signed in different areas including power, construction, infrastructure, communications, telephony and illegal theft of cultural artifacts among others.

"To show the importance Nigeria attaches to this trip, there are 13 ministers traveling as part of the President's delegation. It is not only about the President's delegation. It is also about the interest the private sector in the country has shown in the trip. A lot of investment are going to China.

"As he does everywhere he goes, President Jonathan will also meet with Nigerian community in China to listen to their concerns."



The Punch