Tinubu departs for China

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja for Beijing, China, on Thursday, August 29, on an official visit. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in a statement said President Tinubu “will have a brief layover in the United Arab Emirates.” The presidential spokesman Ngelale had in a press conference, said while […]

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja for Beijing, China, on Thursday, August 29, on an official visit.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in a statement said President Tinubu “will have a brief layover in the United Arab Emirates.”

The presidential spokesman Ngelale had in a press conference, said while in China, the President is expected to engage in a series of meetings and “activities with immediate and future benefit to the Nigerian economy and the people.”

Ngelale said, “Mr. President, will conduct site visits to two major Chinese corporations; Huawei Technologies, as well as the China Rail and Construction Corporation, (CRCC). This is with a view to achieve one of Mr. President’s top agenda, which is the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high speed rail line.”

He said the President will also meet with ten selected Chief Executive officers of ten major Chinese corporations with assets management totalling over $3 trillion US dollars across multiple sectors of the economy, including information and communications technology, Refining, Oil and Gas, Aluminum Production, Seaport Construction, Harbour construction and Dredging Services, Satellite Technology Development, and many other critical sectors.

“While in China, President Tinubu will also meet with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, where several MOUs will be signed involving agreements in deepening cooperation, “in green economy, agriculture, satellite technology development, media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue Economic Development and National Planning Cooperation.

“This is going to be part of a broader engagement where the two heads of state will discuss matters of mutual interest across, not just the economy, but also on issues of national, regional and international security.”

Ngelale noted that Tinubu would also join the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, where several African heads of state will be present to engage with Chinese leaders on various important matters.

“At this FOCAC Summit, President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and certainly would proceed to the high level peace and security plenary, where he will further deliver remarks on peace and security in the region and in Africa in his capacity as the President of Nigeria.”

Ngelale said, “This engagement is expected to yield very tangible, immediate and future dividends for the sake of the Nigerian economy and for the benefit of the Nigerian people and the President is placing a premium on deliverables, ensuring that this is not a talk-shop, but that this is something that will yield results for our people, justifying any expenditure that is made during the course of this trip.”

President Tinubu is expected to be accompanied by senior government officials on the trip.