As Nigeria and China commemorates 50 years of diplomatic relations, Mr Charles Onunaiju, President, Center for China Studies has urged the Federal Government to mainstream the Belt and Road Initiative into Nigeria’s Foreign Policy.
Onunaiju made the call on Thursday in Abuja as the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China begins activities to commemorate the Anniversary of the diplomatic relations of February 10.
According to Onunaiju, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) are key drivers to advancing the cooperation and cultural bridge between Nigeria and China.
Commending the successful diplomatic relations in the past 50 years, Onunaiju said strategic platforms like the BRI and FOCAC needs to be built on to advance the relations for the next 50 years.
“To advance cooperation, there are key drivers like the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) where Nigeria and China are playing very important roles.
“There is also the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive connectivity project between countries within countries and across regions.
“Interestingly, Nigeria has signed on to this project and you can be sure that a lot of infrastructure projects in Nigeria have become far more accelerated on the basis of Nigeria’s engagement on the Belt and Road Initiative.
“What is important is for the leadership on the Nigerian side to appreciate and see the greater opportunity that is offered by the Belt and Road Initiative.
“Because it is a process that has to do with connectivity, people to people engagement, more financial integration and a lot of exchanges.
“So within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Nigeria has very broad prospect. Nigeria has signed to the Belt and Road Initiative and what is important for us is to mainstream it into our foreign policy option.
“Some countries in Africa has belt and road desk in their foreign Ministry, I think it time for Nigeria because Belt and Road Initiative is the most important public good in offer.
“Over 900 billion U.S dollars has so far been expended in the construction of Belt and Road projects and if you appreciate the opportunity presented by the BRI, Nigeria needs to have a special Desk.
“In the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of planning for Belt and Road so that we can exchange maximally with the opportunity of the belt and road,” Onunaiju said.
As Onunaiju appreciated China for its pivotal role in Nigeria’s infrastructural development, he recalled how Nigeria took the first step in reciprocating friendship and cooperation with China almost eight months after the bilateral relation was established.
He explained how Nigeria voted along with 76 other countries of the world to have China’s seat restored in the United Nations in September of the same year.
Speaking Earlier, Mr Li Xuda, Director, China Cultural Center, Abuja said Nigeria-China relations have made great achievements through exchanges and cooperation in all fields such as educational, commercial, cultural, social, among others.
Li said as part of efforts to strengthen the diplomatic relations, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Li visited Nigeria where he and President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to promote bilateral relations on all fronts.
“Especially in recent years, China and Nigeria have been deepening their cooperation.
“Just in a decade, four China assisted friendship schools were built and donated to Nigeria, so many Nigerian children are happy to study in the beautiful school.
“CGC started China-aid Agricultural Demonstration Project Center and provided training programmes on agri-technology for local technicians in June 2018.
“President Buhari was happy while taking the Abuja Rail Mass Transit on July 2018.
“China and Nigeria signed the MOU on cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018: President Buhari inspected the new terminal of the Port Harcourt International Airport on Oct. 25, 2018.
“The Lagos-Ibadan Railway tracks were laid in Nov. 2018; President Buhari inaugurated the new terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport constructed by CCECC on Dec. 20, 2018.
“So we can see only in a year, so many beautiful things happened between us,” Li said.
Li said that although great achievements have been made in years past in all fields, through culture and cooperation, there is still a long way to go. Hence, the need to work more united to achieve set goals.
(NAN)
