The French and Chinese governments
on Friday pledged to extend the level of military and economic cooperation they
have with Nigeria.
The French and Chinese ambassadors
to Nigeria, made the pledge during separate meetings with Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.
The Chinese Envoy, Mr Gu Xiaojie, told correspondents after the meeting that he was very pleased to have a meeting with the vice-president.
He said they had very wonderful and
fruitful discussions and exchanged views on bilateral relations.
“This year is the 10th anniversary
of the establishment of a strategic partnership between Nigeria and China.
“I conveyed the message of the
government and people of China to work closely with the administration of
President Muhammadu Buhari
“Also we discussed the specific
areas of cooperation between the two countries like infrastructure building,
agriculture and some of the specific issues of cooperation of China and
Nigeria.
The ambassador said the
vice-president gave him the assurance that the new administration of Nigeria
would want to continue the already good relationship between Nigeria and China.
He said both reached agreement on
further development of the countries’ relationship.
He said they agreed that China and
Nigeria being the biggest countries in each region had a lot to do together to
make an impact on China-Nigeria relationship, China and Africa relations “and
we can make an impact and influence in the region and the developing world.’’
He said both countries also
exchanged views on peace and stability of Nigeria and noted that the Chinese
Government had been on the side of Nigeria.
“We support the Nigerian government
and people to maintain peace and stability in the country so that the socio and
economic development will be ensured,’’ he said.
The envoy offered his government’s
sympathy and condolences to those who suffered during the past couple of weeks
from terrorist attacks in some parts of Nigeria.
Similarly, the French Ambassador, Mr
Gaver Denya, said he came mainly to discuss how to develop bilateral relations
between France and Nigeria.
He said the relationship had
developed positively in security and political cooperation and in the economic
field.
According to him, this has been more
pronounced since the visit of President Francois Hollande to Nigeria in January
2014 and the regional summit organised in Paris in May 2014 for countries
involved in the fight against Boko Haram.
“France has encouraged Nigeria and
the neighbouring countries to cooperate and collaborate with Nigeria in the
fight against Boko Haram.
“We have also developed close
relationship with the Nigerian armed forces providing them with intelligence
and military cooperation.
“We are willing to continue closely
this cooperation and to extend it, especially the military cooperation, because
we consider it absolutely fundamental in defeating Boko Haram threat for
Nigeria and the whole region.
In the field of economy, the envoy
said Nigeria was the first trading partner for France in Africa.
“We have quite important French
presence in Nigeria and are trying to encourage more French companies to come
into Nigeria to engage in long economic partnership with Nigerian private
sector.
“We buy Nigeria’s crude oil and the
trade balance is in favour of Nigeria,’’ he added.
The ambassador said the French
Development Agency in Nigeria was willing to finance infrastructure projects in
Nigeria, while his country had more plans to organise many visits of French
business organisations to Nigeria.
“We have bright prospects to forge
ahead in our relationships and we have to build on that and multiply the
bilateral visits in the coming period,’’ he said.
(NAN)
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