The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing said Nigeria has become China’s largest engineering contracting market in Africa.

Yuqing disclosed this in her remark on the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria.

She said that they organised the conference on the theme of “Reviewing the History, Embracing the Future” within the framework of the Lagos Forum.

She reiterated that Nigeria became; China’s largest engineering contracting market in Africa, the second largest export market, the third largest trading partner and a major investment destination country with the bilateral trade volume reaching a remarkable level of 22.56 billion dollars.

According to her, it was aimed at reviewing the practical cooperation and fruitful results achieved between China and Nigeria over the past 53 years on the basis of the one-China principle, as well as charting the way forward for the quality enhancement and upgrading of China-Nigeria strategic partnership.

“Since then, the bilateral relations have developed robustly smoothly on the basis of the one-China Principle. In the Joint Communiqué of 2002, China and Nigeria further clarified that ‘the Nigerian side reiterates the one-China policy that there is but one China in the world’ and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory”.

She further stated that over the past 53 years since the diplomatic relationship was established, the development of bilateral relations has enjoyed a sound momentum, supporting each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns. And also have closely coordinated in international and regional affairs, jointly safeguarding the interests of developing countries and world peace and stability.

“China and Nigeria have always been committed to building a world of lasting peace through dialogue and consultation, a world of common security for all through joint efforts, a world of common prosperity through win-win cooperation, an open and inclusive world through exchanges and mutual learning, and making our world clean and beautiful by pursuing green and low-carbon development.

On the basis of political mutual trust, China-Nigeria cooperation has achieved fruitful results in various fields. At the beginning of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria, the annual bilateral trade volume was only a few million dollars, and in 2006, the figure grew to 3.13 billion dollars

“In 2023, Nigeria became China’s largest engineering contracting market in Africa, the second largest export market, the third largest trading partner and a major investment destination country, with the bilateral trade volume reaching a remarkable level of 22.56 billion dollars.

“Chinese companies have been actively participating in projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Dangote Refinery, the Lagos Blue and Red Line Light Rail, the Lagos-Ibadan Railway and so on, significantly promoting local economic and social development, and improving people’s livelihoods. It can be stated that China and Nigeria have been on the right track since the establishment of diplomatic relations.”

She therefore emphasised that, in the past 53 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria, Nigeria’s firm commitment to the one-China principle has been the basis and premise for all the achievements made by China and Nigeria.

“The one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community; it is consistent with the basic norms of international relations. To date, 183 countries including Nigeria have established diplomatic relations with the PRC on the basis of the one-China principle.

“Throughout China’s 5000-year history, national reunification and opposition to secession have always been the common ideals and cultural traditions of the Chinese nation.The truth of ‘united we stand, divided we fall must be deeply felt by the Nigerian people.

“The fulfillment of national development and the well-being of all people is not only the dream of China, but also the common pursuit of all countries including Nigeria. Having experienced a history of colonization and national division, Nigeria shares a common historical memory with the Chinese people. ”

She however said China will join hands with Nigeria to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and jointly achieve a prosperous and glorious future.