The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has spoken on the need for Nigeria to utilize the opportunity to strengthen its economic relations with China.
Speaking on Tuesday evening, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja by the China-Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council, the minister said both countries had a lot to learn and benefit from each other, particularly in the area of critical infrastructure development.
The Council, which was led by Li Zhensheng, had taken the opportunity of the visit to discuss potential areas of cooperation between China and Nigeria saying that the visit is bound to signify a promising future for China-Nigeria relations and a commitment to work together for mutual growth and development.
He outlined five primary areas where China and Nigeria could collaborate, which included infrastructure, agriculture, industry, service industry, or trading services, and upgrading Nigeria’s energy sector.
Also highlighting the challenges faced by Nigeria’s infrastructure sector, Li Zhensheng pointed out China’s decades of experience in reform and opening up, which could be beneficial to Nigeria.
He went further to suggest that Nigeria could be included in the overall layout map being developed by the Chinese government in cooperation with the African Union for railway and road construction across the African continent.
Minister Bagudu responded to this by expressing gratitude for the visit and acknowledged the high regard Nigerians hold China.
Bagudu said he believes that both countries can learn from each other and foster mutual growth through collaboration, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure development.
The Minister also expressed interest in establishing a relationship with the ministry’s counterparts in China and appreciated the offer for industrial parks made by the council.
“The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning,” he said, “remained committed to fostering the alliance with the Council and would share the report of the visit with other state commissioners of budget and economic planning.”
He also said, “The potential areas of cooperation discussed during the visit is signalled on a promising future for China-Nigeria relations and a commitment to working together for mutual growth and development.”
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Li Zhensheng also went on to express gratitude for the chance to explore cooperation with Nigeria and emphasized the importance of exchanges that will promote economic cooperation between the two countries.
