Vice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed satisfaction with the continuous increase in the volume of trade between Nigeria and China.
Shettima said this when he received a delegation from China, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation was led by Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr Zhang Qingwei.
“In 2023, our trade relations with China got to 22.6 billion dollars, one of the highest in Africa, if not the highest, and that trade relationship is growing by 33 per cent every year.
“Mind you, the Nigerian economy is picking up but that did not stop our business relationship with China.
“So, I want to reassure you that we will support you in whatever way we can. We believe in you; we respect you and we cherish our relationship.”
The Vice-President, who expressed his admiration for China’s culture and traditions, said the country was already making its mark among the committee of nations.
He assured the delegation that Nigeria supports the One China policy and appealed for support, expressing optimism that Nigeria would surmount its security challenges.
“You have mentioned security; there can never be peace without development and there can never be development without peace.
“We really want to reposition the security architecture of our country. We are investing in technology and we need your support, we need your cooperation and your partnership.”
Earlier, leader of the delegation, Qingwei, said the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China was opening a new page of relationship and that China was ready to move the relationship to a new high.
“In September this year, President Tinubu attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and also had a state visit.
“President Tinubu and Xi Jinping jointly announced to elevate Nigeria-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening a new chapter of relations.
“China stands ready to work with Nigeria to implement the important consensus between our leaders on the outcome of the summit and elevate Nigeria-China relations to a new height.”
He also pointed to the need for Nigeria and China to support each other politically, adding that Tinubu is committed to economic diversification, and China is ready to support Nigeria’s developmental expedition.
