Chinese officials recently highlighted Nigeria’s position within China’s long-term developmental and economic strategies, citing the country’s growing influence in infrastructure projects, investment, and bilateral trade.
During a seminar in the Chinese capital, Beijing, attended by prominent Nigerian government officials and media figures, Nigeria was touted as one of China’s major African partners.
It was also made known during the seminar that Nigeria now stands as one of China’s premier market for engineering and construction on the African continent, boasting the title of the largest engineering contracting market in Africa.
“Nigeria is China’s largest engineering contracting market, second-largest export market, third-largest trading partner, and a major investment destination in Africa,” he stated.
Additionally, the West African country also stands as China’s second-largest export market and third-largest trading partner in Africa, according to the Deputy Director at the China International Communications Group, Li Hengtian.
As seen in the Punch newspaper, the Deputy Director began the session by stating that the goal of the seminar was to improve communication and collaboration between the two nations through media cooperation and people-centered storytelling.
“Stories are the highest form of human communication,” he said, quoting Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
“Today, in Beijing at the beginning of summer, we are here precisely for stories, to tell China’s stories, to listen to Nigeria’s stories, and even more so, to together write a new chapter of China-Nigeria friendship,” Li added.
