President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday received China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, marking a significant step in reinforcing Nigeria-China bilateral relations.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, arrived in Abuja as part of his two-day working visit to Nigeria.
The visit is focused on reviewing and advancing areas of cooperation outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in China.
President Tinubu, alongside key government officials, welcomed Wang Yi to Aso Rock, with discussions revolving around critical areas such as economic partnerships, political collaboration, and investments in the oil and gas sectors.
Dignitaries present at the meeting included Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed; and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
Speaking about the visit, Ambassador Tuggar noted the long-standing diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and China, describing it as one built on mutual respect and shared interests.
“The diplomatic visit of China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, is aimed at consolidating the foundation of Nigeria-China diplomatic ties,” Tuggar remarked.
In a series of tweets on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Ambassador Tuggar revealed that the strategic discussions with his Chinese counterpart centered on trade expansion, capacity building, and people-oriented exchanges to strengthen ties between the two nations.
Following the meeting, Wang Yi and Ambassador Tuggar are expected to address a joint press briefing to provide updates on the outcomes of their discussions and the roadmap for future collaboration.
