China and Nigeria reaffirmed their growing partnership on Thursday, unveiling a broader development agenda for Africa at the second Post-FOCAC Forum held at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
The forum, themed International Conference (West Africa): Second Post-FOCAC Abuja Forum, focused on the implementation of the “Ten Partnership Actions” announced at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing. These initiatives span infrastructure, trade, health, green energy, digital innovation, and more.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the initiatives as part of a shared development blueprint between China and Africa.
“These actions are designed to catalyse modernisation across Africa and elevate the China-Africa community to new heights,” Dunhai said.
He noted substantial progress within just nine months of the Beijing summit, including enhanced strategic trust, deeper cooperation, and improved multilateral alignment. Notably, China has lifted tariffs on exports from 53 African nations and is advancing cooperation in emerging industries.
Among bilateral milestones, Dunhai highlighted the opening of a lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State and efforts to revitalise the Ajaokuta Steel Plant. He also expressed China’s willingness to initiate an Economic Partnership Agreement with Nigeria.
Dunhai praised Nigeria’s diplomatic posture, especially its support for the One-China policy and its recent BRICS membership. He also acknowledged Joseph Tegbe’s appointment as Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), calling him a “steadfast champion” of bilateral ties.
Tegbe described the evolving relationship as a move toward structured, long-term development cooperation:
“Nigeria and China have now entered a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership phase. We’re no longer content with symbolic ties—we’re building meaningful, coordinated partnerships.”
He emphasised that the NCSP aligns with both Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Key collaboration areas include agriculture, education, technology, and healthcare.
Tegbe also noted China’s recent implementation of zero-tariff policies for African exports, adding:
“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a net exporter to China, just as Brazil has done.”
On infrastructure, he cited Nigeria’s $8 billion investment over the past decade and another $8 billion worth of FOCAC-prioritised projects in the pipeline. Healthcare collaboration was also spotlighted, with China pledging 2,000 medical professionals and investment in hospital alliances.
Tegbe reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for these initiatives, pointing to Nigeria’s readiness to benefit from the $51 billion Africa development fund.
Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, closed the forum with a powerful message:
“China-Africa relations have become a force to reckon with—a concert of giants, a journey of hope and resilience.”
