Beijing – The Chinese President, Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday at Beijing pledged to further promote their strategic relationship.

Jinping and Buhari made the pledge during the state visit of Buhari to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Jinping said that the relationship will further deepen the two countries friendship and reciprocal cooperation is in the long-term interests of the two countries and people

“This will strengthen the relationship to favour the interest of the people, conducive to the peace, stability and development of Africa and the world.

“The two sides should maintain high-level engagement, increase exchanges in all areas, give each other understanding and support on issues of their core interests and major concern, and strengthen strategic mutual trust,” Jinping said.

He said that China is ready to expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as agriculture, fisheries, oil refining, mineral exploitation, mechatronics, light industry, textile and processing.

Jinping said that China is also willing to help Nigeria solve the bottleneck of infrastructure, professionals and funds in developing industry and modern agriculture.

He called on the two countries to increase cooperation in the areas of culture, education, media, youth and women.

He said that China will support Nigeria playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs, and strengthen communication and coordination on major issues such as the peace and stability of Africa, climate change, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Jinping also pledged to give more support to Africa’s development.

He said China will implement the outcome of the latest Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in Johannesburg last December to give more assistance to Africa to realize reciprocity and common development.

Buhari, in his response, commended China for its long-term assistance to Nigeria’s infrastructure construction.

He said that the Johannesburg summit injected new vitality into Africa-China relations and brought more opportunities for Nigeria-China cooperation.

“Nigeria was willing to implement cooperation deals already reached with China, strengthen cooperation in areas including agriculture, mining, infrastructure and human resources.

“Nigeria will also strengthen coordination with China on international affairs,’’ Buhari said.

After the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of several agreements in infrastructure, production capacity, investment, aviation, technology and finance.

Buhari is on his first state visit to China from Monday to Friday at the invitation to the Chinese president.

He will also visit Shanghai, an economic hub in east China, and Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province.