By Ochiaka Ugwu
Nigeria’s Minister of Power and Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tsegbe, has commended the People’s Republic of China for its contributions to Nigeria’s development through investment, financing and engineering.
Tsegbe said projects such as the Lekki Deep Seaport, railway modernisation and the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station, among others, were gains from pragmatic engagements between Nigeria and China.
Tsegbe, who made this known on Wednesday at a grand reception in Abuja to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, noted that Nigeria equally valued its cooperation with China in healthcare, people-to-people exchanges and technical training.
He commended China’s zero-tariff programme extended to 53 African countries, stating that it had created significant opportunities for Nigerian producers.
He said Nigeria-China trade volume stood at $28 billion last year and had reached $17 billion by the middle of this year, noting that Nigeria’s contribution to trade with China had increased significantly.
Tsegbe said the shared task of both countries was to translate that market access into stronger Nigerian production and increased exports to China, with benefits that would strengthen both economies.
While praising China for achieving an extraordinary transformation in its nation-building journey, Tsegbe commended the country’s leadership for its sustained commitment to national development and saluted generations of Chinese citizens whose enterprise and perseverance had contributed to the country’s progress.
He said China’s advancements and achievements in manufacturing, science, high-speed rail and clean energy commanded significant respect.
He emphasised that China’s reforms had lifted 800 million people out of extreme poverty, providing families with greater security and children with wider opportunities.
He stated that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) had led to practical engagements between the two countries, adding that a traditional diplomatic friendship had matured into cooperation that increasingly touched the daily lives of citizens of both nations.
Expressing optimism that deeper cooperation with China would help Nigeria achieve reliable electricity supply, expand renewable energy and promote the local manufacture of power equipment, Tsegbe maintained that the friendship between the two countries rested on mutual respect and sovereign equality.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s full commitment to the One-China principle, saying the Nigerian government recognised the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
Speaking earlier, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said China was advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation, injecting certainty and creating new opportunities for global development.
Yu emphasised that embracing China meant embracing the future and that walking with China meant walking with opportunity.
While expressing appreciation for the resilience, optimism and self-reliance of Nigerians, which he described as the “Naija spirit,” Yu said their determination to seize new opportunities amid change and open new horizons through hard work filled him with heartfelt admiration.
He said that despite a complex global environment and sluggish recovery, China’s economy remained resilient, explaining that in the first half of the year, the country’s GDP grew by 4.7 per cent, securing a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.
He added that, supported by the world’s most complete new energy supply chain, China continued to contribute to the stability of global energy markets.
Yu said China had built a model of South-South cooperation based on equality, mutual benefit and solidarity.
He added that, by adhering to the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith in its Africa policy, China firmly supported African integration and self-reliant development.
More than 600 guests attended the event, including senior Nigerian government officials.
Among them were Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang; Minister of Power and Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tsegbe, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu; senators; members of the House of Representatives; and members of the diplomatic corps.
The Hunan Art Troupe also entertained guests with cultural performances, which were met with applause and admiration from the audience.
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