Fruitful 2023 ushers in the promising 2024 in China-Nigeria Relations

The Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing says 2023 has been a fruitful year for China-Nigeria relations and 2024 promises to be better for the two countries.

In a New Year greeting in Lagos, Ms. Yan said “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you all for great contributions to the development of China-Africa, and China-Nigeria relations!”

She noted that 2023 had been a fruitful year for China-Nigeria relations, adding that “2023 bears historical significance for the development of China-Africa relations, marking the 10^th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s proposal to promote the concept of building a Global Community of Shared Future, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the principles guiding China’s Africa policy, including sincerity, real results, amity and good faith.”

Ms. Yan applauded the development under the BRI “under the guidance of China’s principles to Africa policy, proposed by President Xi Jinping, including sincerity, real results, amity, good faith, and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests,” in the past 10 years.

 Speaking on the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Yan said China-Africa friendship and cooperation had “pressed ahead on the path to solidarity and cooperation, stood for justice against the shifting global dynamics, and helped each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the joint building of a high-level Belt and Road, we have pushed China-Africa relations to new heights.”

Ms. Yan who listed area of cooperation including infrastructural development, trade and counter-terrorism efforts, said “2024 will be a crucial year for win-win cooperation between China and Nigeria. China is going to celebrate the 75^th National Day and host the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation meeting. I am willing to work with all walks of life in Nigeria to deepen the all-round cooperation with China through economic and trade cooperation, Subnational communication and cultural exchanges, promoting the China-Nigeria strategic partnership to a new level.”