President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to strengthening its strategic bilateral trade and economic partnership with China as both nations enter a new phase of cooperation. This commitment was highlighted during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja between the President and the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe.
A Partnership Anchored in Mutual Respect and Progress
The foundation for this deepened engagement was set in September 2024 during President Tinubu's state visit to China, where he and President Xi Jinping agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Reflecting on the progress made throughout 2025, Mr. Tegbe expressed confidence that the Nigeria-China cooperation will continue to mature and yield lasting benefits for both countries.
He noted that the past year witnessed sustained engagement across political, economic, and technical levels. This relationship is firmly built on mutual respect, shared development goals, and a common vision for a future where both nations thrive together.
Key Areas of Cooperation and Future Priorities
Throughout 2025, collaboration expanded significantly across several critical sectors vital to Nigeria's development agenda. The priority areas include:
- Infrastructure development and delivery
- Trade and investment facilitation
- Industrial capacity building
- Technology exchange and transfer
- Strengthening people-to-people relations
These efforts have successfully created stronger institutional links and a more structured framework for achieving outcomes that benefit both Nigeria and China.
Upholding Sovereign Principles
Mr. Tegbe emphasized that Nigeria's foreign policy, including its relationship with China, remains guided by core principles of international relations. Nigeria consistently upholds the One-China principle, respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the People's Republic of China. This stance forms the bedrock of the diplomatic and economic relations between Abuja and Beijing.
A Results-Oriented Path Forward for 2026
As Nigeria looks ahead to 2026, the focus is on practical, results-driven consolidation of the partnership. The commitment is to deepen cooperation in ways that directly support Nigeria's national objectives.
The priority areas for the coming year will continue to be economic diversification, critical infrastructure projects, human capital development, and securing technology transfers that ensure long-term sustainability and growth for the Nigerian economy. The Tinubu administration is poised to leverage this strategic partnership to deliver tangible benefits to the Nigerian people.
