China, Nigeria vow to further bilateral co-op

BEIJING—China and Nigeria on Thursday vowed to expand cooperation from fields such as energy and telecommunications to agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing.
The two sides issued a joint press communique after talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting Nigerian counterpart Umaru Yar’Adua, pledging to continue to promote the growth of relations. During the talks, the heads of the state expressed satisfaction at the evolving strategic partnership between their two countries. Hu said that since President Yar’Adua took office, the Nigerian government has paid high regard to relations with China, sticking to the one-China policy, and supporting China’s peaceful reunification process.
Hu made four proposals to strengthen bilateral relations, including a strategic dialogue to cement mutual political trust, cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and cultural exchanges to increase mutual understanding and strengthening cooperation on regional and international issues to safeguard common interests. Yar’Adua said Nigeria was willing to promote friendly exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as trade, infrastructure and energy.
Earlier, Yar’Adua met with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, saying Nigeria believed the expansion of reciprocal cooperation with China would help Nigeria to achieve its economic development. China’s assistance to Africa was purely selfless, and only aimed to help Africa accelerate its independence, Wen told Yar’Adua. China would continue to work with African countries, including Nigeria, to comprehensively implement the Action Plan adopted during the Sino-Africa Beijing Summit last year for the benefit of all. As guest of Hu, Yar’Adua arrived on Wednesday for a four-day state visit, the first since he assumed office in May 2007.
Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo met with visiting Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua here on Friday, pledging to advance bilateral strategic partnership.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), said the two countries witnessed smooth development of bilateral relations since establishing diplomatic ties, with fruitful cooperation in various fields and frequent high-level visits.
China and Nigeria have increased the bilateral cooperation in agriculture, industry, infrastructure, electric power, telecom and manufacture fields. Wu said this injected vitality into China-Nigeria relations. Wu said China attached great importance to relations with Nigeria, and was ready to work with Nigeria to further advance the bilateral strategic partnership.
As to the parliamentary cooperation between the two nations, Wu said the NPC valued the relations with Nigerian parliament, and would keep the momentum of close exchanges, in an effort to push for the China-Nigeria strategic partnership in an all-round manner.
Yar’Adua said Nigeria and China witnessed sound growth of bilateral strategic partnership. Nigeria cherished the relations with China, and expected to become an important cooperative partner of China in Africa.
Yar’Adua hoped that the cooperation between the two nations would set a good example for Africa-China cooperation.
Nigeria was willing to further increase cooperation with China in electric power, energy, infrastructure and other fields, he said, noting that Nigeria would also enhance party-to-party exchanges and parliamentary cooperation with China, so as to promote the all-round growth of Nigeria-China strategic partnership.
Yar’Adua is on a four-day official visit to China, which is also his first tour to the country.
Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua arrived here Wednesday night, kicking off his four-day state visit to China as a guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao. This is the first visit by Yar’Adua to China since he assumed office in May 2007. During his stay here, he will hold talks with Hu and meet with some other Chinese leaders.—Xinhua