- China and Nigeria have signed an MoU for the development of nuclear energy projects.
- The MoU’s were signed during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Beijing this week to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the Nigerian presidential spokesperson, the agreements include plans for the joint promotion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and advancements in human resource development under the Global Development Initiative.
“China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination, will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries,” President Xi Jinping said.
Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s ambition to become China’s leading trade and investment partner in Africa. He also welcomed increased Chinese investments in Nigeria, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and mineral energy, which he believes will contribute to efforts to reduce poverty in his country.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a central component of its global infrastructure strategy, has invested heavily in Africa, with Chinese companies signing contracts worth over $700bn in the past decade.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
