Nigeria, China sign pacts, vow to promote cooperation

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a ceremony to welcome him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before they presided over the signing of accords to facilitate US$1.1 billion low-interest loans for infrastructure development in Nigeria.The two leaders exchanged views on promotion of ties between China […]

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a ceremony to welcome him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before they presided over the signing of accords to facilitate US$1.1 billion low-interest loans for infrastructure development in Nigeria.
The two leaders exchanged views on promotion of ties between China and Nigeria, as well as other African nations and witnessed the signing of agreements on finance, trade and culture.
Jonathan who is on his first visit to China since taking office later reviewed a guard of honor accompanied by President Xi Jinping. China’s CNTV quoted President Xi as emphasizing efforts to promote new Sino-African strategic partnerships.
Representatives from both sides signed five deals including a lending agreement between China’s Import-Export Bank and the Nigerian finance ministry for the expansion of the airport terminals and an economic and technical cooperation pact. Details of the agreements were not immediately available.
Jonathan will today meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and representatives of companies including state oil company Sinopec and telecom equipment makers Huawei and ZTE according to the South China Morning Post.
Meanwhile, Chinese officials say it is their custom for foreign ministers to receive visiting presidents on arrival at the airport during official visits and being received by the assistant foreign minister on Tuesday does in any way reflect any form of disregard for President Jonathan or Nigeria by the Chinese people and government.
A top official of the Chinese government told Daily Trust yesterday that China attaches great importance to Nigeria and has no reason to relegate the country or its leader.
“It is our custom”, he said when asked by Daily Trust why an assistant minister received Jonathan at the airport, “it is our foreign ministers that receive visiting presidents. It is very, very, rare for our president to receive other presidents at the airport.
Even when a United States president visited sometime back, it was the same. It’s not in any way to spite Nigeria or your president, we love and respect Nigeria very much, don’t worry about that. But you saw the grand reception held for Jonathan at the Great Hall by President Xi”.