Tinubu, Chinese President, Xi Jinping to meet in Beijing next week

By Egena Sunday Ode

Plans have been concluded for a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, in Beijing by first week of September.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Ngelale did not state the exact date the President will depart for the Asian giant’s capital, but he noted that the meeting is scheduled for first week of September.
He said President Tinubu will, during the visit, engage in a series of meetings with his Chinese counterpart and 10 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of different major corporations for the economic benefit of the country.
President Tinubu would also engage in bilateral talks as well as sign Memoranda of Understand (MoUs) and other agreements that will deepen corporations in various sectors, including the green economy, blue economic development, national planning cooperation among others, the presidency spokesman said.
He also noted that issues of national, regional and international security will be part of the discussions.
Other areas of concern during the Presidrnt’s visit would be the completion of the Abuja to Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kaduna standard railway, he said.
The presidency spokesman further added that issues on information technology, refining, oil and gas, and satellite technology would also be on the front burner during the trip.
He said: “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will depart for the People’s Republic of China, most specifically, Beijing, from the nation’s capital within the first week of September, to engage in a series of meetings and activities with immediate and future benefit to the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian people.
“First and foremost, His Excellency, Mr. President, will conduct site visits to two major Chinese corporations; Huawei Technologies, as well as the China Rail and Construction Corporation, (CRCC).
“This is with a view to achieve one of Mr. President’s top agenda items, which is the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high speed rail line.
“Thereafter His Excellency, Mr. President, will meet 10 selected chief executive officers of 10 major Chinese corporations with assets under management totalling over $3 trillion US dollars across multiple sectors of the economy, including information and communications technology, refining oil and gas, aluminium production, seaport construction, harbour construction and dredging services, financial services, satellite technology development, as well as many other critical sectors.
“Mr. President will also meet with his Chinese counterpart in the person of President Xi Jinping, where several MOUs will be signed. The MOUs will involve agreements in deepening cooperation, in green economy, in agriculture, in satellite technology development, in media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue economic development and national planning cooperation.
“This is going to be part of a broader engagement where the two heads of state will discuss matters of mutual interest across, not just the economy, but also on issues of national, regional and international security.”
He added: “His Excellency, Mr. President, would thereafter join the FOCAC Summit, where several African heads of state will be present to engage with Chinese leaders on various important matters.
“At this FOCAC Summit, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and certainly would proceed to the high level peace and security plenary, where he will further deliver remarks on peace and security in the region and in Africa in his capacity as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This engagement is expected to yield very tangible, immediate and future dividends for the sake of the Nigerian economy and for the benefit of the Nigerian people and the President is placing a premium on deliverables, ensuring that this is not a talk-shop, but that this is something that will yield results for our people, justifying any expenditure that is made during the course of this trip.”