Chinese Ambassador vows to implement China-Nigeria agreements
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, on Friday, pledged his commitment to ensure the implementation of the Memorandums of Understanding signed during President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to China.
Speaking on his mission at a press briefing in Abuja, Dunhai affirmed that ensuring the agreements are fully realised is a top priority for the Chinese side.
“This is exactly my mission and task. It is my priority to follow through with the 13 cooperative documents we have signed, and I believe there may be even more agreements between departments and companies,” he said.
He outlined that both countries are preparing for a busy period of collaboration, with multiple delegations expected to travel between Nigeria and China to help bring the MOUs into action.
The ambassador stressed the importance of turning the agreements into tangible results.
“The goal is to translate the consensus reached by our two presidents into reality.
“I have a lot of work ahead, but it is our shared responsibility to see these agreements materialised,” he said, expressing optimism about working with various Nigerian sectors to drive implementation.
The envoy also highlighted that the cooperation goes beyond government-to-government relations, with additional partnerships likely forming between companies and local departments.
He predicted that the implementation process would involve active engagement in key cities in Nigeria such as Abuja and Lagos.
He highlighted the historic significance of President Tinubu’s visit.
“This visit is unique and historical, marking an elevation of our bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership,” Dunhai remarked.
Meanwhile, the Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy, Zhang Yi, echoed the ambassador’s optimism, noting that Nigerian officials have shown strong dedication to advancing the MOUs.
“The Nigerian side is very sincere and committed. They are working hard to turn these MOUs into concrete actions,” said Yi.
Yi highlights the role of the Intergovernmental Committee, which provides a structured framework for tracking and reviewing the implementation of these agreements.
He also emphasised that the MOUs are mutually beneficial and will serve the interests of both countries, creating strong incentives to transform the agreements into tangible results.
“And we are going to have institutional reviews to follow up on implementations. And what is more, those MOUs are win-win documents.
“They are mutually beneficial. So that means it will serve the interests of Nigeria and China. So that will give both sides a strong incentive to translate those words into deeds,” he noted.
From September 1 to 6, 2024, Tinubu paid his first visit to China since taking office and also attended the just concluded 2024 Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, accompanied by ministers, state governors and entrepreneurs.
During his visit, the relevant departments of the two sides signed a total of 13 cooperation documents, covering such as high-quality Belt and Road cooperation planning, the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, economic growth, human resources, application of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System, export of peanuts to China, and the media exchanges.
