…Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era

By Yan Yuqing, Chinese Consul General in Lagos

From January 5 to 11, 2025, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, successfully visited Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad and Nigeria. This continued the fine tradition of Chinese foreign ministers making Africa their first overseas visit of the year for 35 consecutive years. It reaffirmed that China has always been the most trustworthy friend of its African brothers and sisters, the most reliable partner for African countries in their pursuit of development and revitalization, the strongest supporter of Africa on the international stage, and Africa has consistently remained a priority in China’s overall diplomatic strategy.

This visit aimed to advance the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, deepen pragmatic cooperation across various sectors, and promote the sustained and in-depth development of China-Africa relations. It also brought new momentum and vitality into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Nigeria. It’s believed that under the guidance of the two heads of state, China and Nigeria are poised to jointly create a model of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

During his meeting with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar on January 9, Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted that the development of China-Nigeria relations has achieved three outstanding achievements: 

First, the positioning of the relationship has achieved a new leap with the two heads of state jointly announcing that China-Nigeria relations have been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Second, a new platform has been established through solidarity and collaboration. The first plenary session of the China-Nigeria Intergovernmental Committee was held successfully, which promoted the upgrading and coordinated progress of China-Nigeria cooperation.

Third, international cooperation has reached a new height. The two sides coordinate closely on international and regional affairs and work together to promote the collective rise, development and revitalization of the Global South.

In an unpredictable and turbulent world, the Global South must embody resilient determination. Amid global instability, alternating between cold and hot conflicts, from economic turbulence to climate crises, from technological revolutions to cultural clashes, the ever-changing era demands the Global South to remain steadfast in pursuing a more just, inclusive, and sustainable path to development.

Over the past more than half-century since the establishment of diplomatic relations, regardless of changes in the international situation, China and Nigeria have always been deepening friendly and practical cooperation based on mutual respect and equality, becoming a successful example of South-South cooperation and an important benchmark for China-Africa cooperation.

China believes in an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, which has been highly praised and supported by Nigeria. Looking ahead, China and Nigeria will remain steadfast in their shared beliefs, rooted in their deep historical bond, and will stay true to their original aspirations amid turbulence and steering steadily forward in a world of change.

Mutually Beneficial Economic and Trade Cooperation Paves the path to a Promising China-Nigeria Future. From January to November 2024, China-Nigeria bilateral trade exceeded $19 billion, with imports from Nigeria reaching $2.576 billion, a year-on-year increase of 27%. This marks progress toward a more balanced bilateral trade relationship. China remains committed to advance high-level opening-up, by leveraging its enormous domestic market to attract global resources and production factors, and at the same time, utilizing its comprehensive and complete industrial system to encourage competitive industries to “go global.” This will amplify the interplay between domestic and international markets and resources and improve the level and quality of trade and investment cooperation. We sincerely hope that China and Nigeria will achieve new progress in global industrial chain cooperation, by leveraging their complementary strengths, the two nations can further explore new areas of collaboration, such as clean energy, green minerals, and finance. Expanding the “comprehensiveness” of China-Nigeria relations will promote coordinated development across various sectors, including trade, agriculture, culture, defense, science and technology, and aerospace. This multifaceted approach will ensure the steady growth and deepening of the China-Nigeria partnership.

Renewed Hope Agenda is to build a China-Nigeria Community with a Shared Future hand in hand. Nigeria is “renewing hope” on its development path, playing a crucial role in regional peace and serving as a stabilizing force in Africa. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit achieved significant outcomes, including the implementation of the ten partnership actions. We are ready to strengthen alignment with Nigeria, unlock the potential for collaboration, and expand areas of cooperation to support Nigeria’s accelerated development and revitalization. China appreciates Nigeria’s adherence to the one-China principle and supports Nigeria in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions. We also back Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism, safeguard regional peace and stability, and enhance its influence on the international stage. China-Nigeria relations have transcended the bilateral scope. The two nations must work together to advance their comprehensive strategic partnership and build a all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for new era, setting an example of solidarity and cooperation for the Global South.

Currently, China and Africa are walking hand in hand on the broad path toward modernization. The ten partnership actions cover all areas of China-Africa cooperation, addressing all the challenges Africa faces and fully meeting the continent’s needs, and will provide substantial support for Africa’s development and revitalization. Looking back, the long river of history flows endlessly, and the friendship between China and Nigeria has transcended mountains and seas, growing ever stronger over time. In the present, China and Nigeria are marching forward together, with win-win cooperation shinning like the rising morning sun, illuminating flourishing growth. Looking ahead, China and Nigeria will seize the momentum of the times together, steering the ship of friendship toward broader horizons.