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The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has reiterated China’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its bilateral ties with Nigeria, as trade volumes between the two nations surged past $20 billion in 2024. This milestone underscores the growing economic synergy between the two countries, with both sides exploring new avenues for collaboration in infrastructure, technology, and energy.
Speaking at the Chinese New Year of the Snake event in Abuja on Saturday, Dunhai highlighted Nigeria’s escalating influence. He detailed the country’s growing contributions to African development and its emerging stature in international arenas.
Dunhai pointed to the fortified bilateral relationship, which achieved the status of a comprehensive strategic partnership in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to China. He stressed the transformative potential of this partnership for both countries.
Highlighting the significance of cultural and people-to-people connections, Dunhai pointed to the annual Spring Festival Temple Fair as a testament to the deepening ties between Nigeria and China. The Abuja event drew more than 2,000 participants from both nations, fostering a spirit of cultural harmony and collaboration.
“The year 2025 is going to be a big year for China and Nigeria. This is because last year, President Bola Tinubu paid a state visit to China, and the two presidents agreed to elevate our bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership one of the pillars of this relationship is the very close people-to-people and cultural exchange.
“We look forward to working with people from all walks of life in Nigeria to materialise the very important consensus we reached between our two heads of state and bring our two countries’ cooperation to a new level.
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“The trade volume between both countries exceeded $20bn dollars last year, and I think Nigeria is the largest engineering contract, the second largest exporting market, and the third largest trade partner for China in Africa. And of course, we would like to work with Nigeria to bring our trade volume to an even higher because we see there is a big potential,” the ambassador stated.
Dunhai expressed optimism about the future of Nigeria-China relations, particularly under the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation.
“We look forward to working with Nigeria to implement the 10 Action Partnerships and bring tangible benefits to the people of both nations,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Oraelumo Raphael, commended the ambassador’s efforts to promote cultural ties.
Raphael stressed the importance of preserving the rich cultural heritage of both nations, highlighting Nigeria’s tourism potential and envisioning a future where its culture is globally recognised.
Furthermore, the Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Xu Tao celebrated Nigeria’s immense cultural and natural wealth.
