Guardian Nigeria, China sign pacts on trade, others WEDNESDAY, 10 JULY 2013 00:00 BY WOLE SHADARE (LAGOS), MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR AND OMOTOLA OLORUNTOBI (ABUJA) NEWS -NATIONAL AS part of his economic shuttle to China, President Goodluck Jonathan and his host, President Xi Jinping of China, yesterday endorsed in Beijing, five agreements covering financial, trade, economic, technical and cultural relations between the two countries. The agreements, which were initialed after bilateral talks between the two leaders and their delegations, include the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Financial Cooperation in Support of Nigeria’s Economic Development and a Preferential Buyer Credit Agreement for Nigeria’s Four Airports Expansion Project. Others were a new Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between Nigeria and China, an Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports from both countries and an Agreement for the Prevention of the Theft, Illicit Import and Export of Cultural Property. But the President used the opportunity to regret the recent forceful change of government in Egypt and called on the ruling leaders in that country to work towards restoring the country to democratic rule. Speaking before the commencement of the talks, President Jonathan thanked President Jinping and the people of China for the warm reception accorded him and his wife, Patience, since their arrival in Beijing on Tuesday. A statement from the Office of the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as re-stating the commitment of Nigerian government to sustaining and developing the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their people. He said in spite of the many positive developments in bilateral relations between the countries in recent years, there was still ample scope for increased trade and direct investment from China in Nigeria. President Jinping assured President Jonathan that China would continue to work with Nigeria in all possible areas in furtherance of the development agenda of both countries. Earlier in the day, President Jonathan met and invited senior executives of several Chinese conglomerates to initiate fresh investments in Nigeria or increase existing ones, saying that the Federal Government was committed to doing all within its powers to expand Nigeria’s domestic manufacturing capacity. Those the President met with included top executives of Huawei Technologies Limited, China Great Wall Industries, ZTE Corporation, the State Grid Corporation of China, the NIC/SINOPEC/CGC Consortium, the China Railway Construction Corporation and the China Harbour Engineering Corporation. At a breakfast meeting with African Ambassadors to China, President Jonathan reaffirmed his conviction that African countries needed to strengthen their institutions of democratic governance to guarantee political stability and sustained development. He said democratic governance ought to be nurtured and encouraged until it takes firmer root across the continent, adding that the African Union must continue to stand against unconstitutional changes of government in member-states. Noting that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has become a useful framework for engagement between Africa and China, President Jonathan said the African Union might consider the establishment of a representative office in Beijing to facilitate closer ties between the Asian economic giant and African nations. Abati further noted that President Jonathan would meet with Premier Li Keqiang and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, Mr. Zhang Dejiang, tomorrow for further bilateral talks.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 07:20:32 +0000
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