Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, says China will provide a grant of RMB200 million (40.3 billion naira) to support the implementation of development projects in Nigeria.
Yu disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with Dr Dunoma Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja.
He said the grant would support projects jointly agreed upon by the governments of the two countries as part of efforts to advance Nigeria’s development priorities.
According to him, the grant is part of China’s continued support for Nigeria’s national development and economic growth, and efforts to translate bilateral agreements into tangible benefits for the people.
The envoy recalled that China-Nigeria relations had remained at the forefront of China-Africa relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries 55 years ago.
“Over the past 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria, bilateral relations have consistently remained at the forefront of China-Africa relations,” Yu said.
According to him, the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has entered a new stage of high-quality development under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
He said both countries had maintained close communication and coordination in implementing the common understandings reached by their leaders and the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit.
Yu said the objective was to ensure that cooperation between both countries was translated into concrete outcomes capable of improving the lives of their citizens.
“China and Nigeria have maintained close communication and coordination, working together to implement the common understandings reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit,” he said.
Responding, the permanent secretary expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government for its continued support for Nigeria’s economic and social development.
