Nigeria and China have committed to protecting the rights of each other’s citizens, in a bid to strengthen bilateral relations.
A communique jointly signed by the two nations on Tuesday revealed the commitment to create a favourable business environment for companies from both countries.
President Tinubu is in China on the invitation of President Xi for a state visit, which will be followed by the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The joint statement detailed the critical components of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership achieved through a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed by both nations during the meeting on Tuesday.
In addition to protecting citizens’ rights, both countries have expressed support for the establishment of more friendly relations between Nigerian and Chinese provinces and states, as well as municipalities.
This move is expected to expand and deepen cooperation at the sub-national level.
The communique also highlighted the commitment of both nations to support the World Trade Organization (WTO) focused multilateral trading system, oppose trade protectionism, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.
Both countries have also pledged to create a transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for cooperation, signalling a new era of economic collaboration and people-to-people exchanges between Nigeria and China.
“The two sides are committed to supporting the WTO focused multilateral trading system, oppose trade protectionism, promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, create a transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for cooperation between the two countries.
“The two sides further support the establishment of more friendly relations between Chinese and Nigerian provinces/states and municipalities with a view to expand and deepen cooperation at the sub-national level.
“The two sides are committed to stepping up protection of lawful rights and interests of each other’s citizens on their territories and create a favourable business environment for each other’s companies”, the communique read in part.
It would recalled that Nigerian Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, met on Tuesday in Beijing.
PIAK
