President Muhammadu
Buhari has departed Abuja for China on an official visit on April 10,
Sunday.
Buhari is set to spend four days on a state visit to the Peoples’
Republic of China from April 11 to 15 to strengthen diplomatic relations
between China and Nigeria.
Nigeria’s president,
speaking to Xinhua, Chinese news agency, prior to his trip, said the
country cannot afford to lose the enormous potential in China-Nigeria
economic and trade cooperation.
On trade and economic
ties, Buhari added that his government remains committed to contracts
signed by Goodluck Jonathan, his predecessor, with Chinese firms on
railway, roads and hydroelectric dam projects.
He said: “China has the
technical and financial capacity and the experience of development while
retaining the goodwill to help Nigeria. So, really, this is an
opportunity Nigeria cannot afford to lose.
“In spite of being the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria is still badly
in need of these projects, which China, as the world’s second-largest
economy, has the capacity to undertake.”
The Nigerian leader
would be the first African head of state to visit China after the Forum
on China-Africa Cooperation Johannesburg Summit, which is of great
importance to both China-Nigeria and China-Africa relations, and draws
great attention from both countries and Africa.
The president has recently returned to Nigeria after a trip to the USA
for the 4th Nuclear Security Summit.
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