When Nigerian, Chinese diplomats seek improved relationship

For the umpteenth time, China and Nigeria have cause to engage in a roundtable when diplomats from both countries converged at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos to look at issues that concerns them. Representatives examine issues of economy, politics, social-cultural issues and bilateral relationships.Indeed setting agenda for the roundtable was never a difficult […]

For the umpteenth time, China and Nigeria have cause to engage in a roundtable when diplomats from both countries converged at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos to look at issues that concerns them. Representatives examine issues of economy, politics, social-cultural issues and bilateral relationships.
Indeed setting agenda for the roundtable was never a difficult but what appeared to be uppermost in that discussion are the challenges in the areas of investment which have been bedeviling their relationship and which both sides made no pretenses in discussing.
Indeed, the increasing business engagements between Nigeria and China have opened an enormous vista of opportunities at various levels unfortunately however, unscrupulous businessmen are engaging in acts that are in discord with international best practices which have lowered the quality of Chinese made products imported into Nigeria. This unwholesome act has the capacity to adversely affect
Sino-Nigerian relations which both countries are striving hard to build, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, NIIA Director-General said as the brainstorming sessions among the diplomats began.
According to Akinterinwa, the challenges that seem to be cropping up especially in the area of trade relationship necessitate, more than any other thing, the need to have Think Tanks from Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR).
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and now, Chairman Governing Council of NIIA, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd) said having the roundtable discussion is pertinent by the fact that Nigeria needs to sustain a relationship with China considering the fact it is already a member of a group of fast developing economies that include Mexico, India, Nigeria and Turkey (MINT).
Nwachukwu noted that what appears to have constituted worry for Nigeria as a nation over the years is the issue of imbalance trade relationship.
He said apart from the fact that China appears to have benefited more from trade relationship with Nigeria , the Asian Tiger has consistently supply Nigerians with low quality products which are unlike what it sends to other developed countries of the world.
Also at the forum, Dr Efem Ubi, a research fellow at NIIA lamented the stringent condition often put in place for Nigerians who desire to obtain Chinese Visa, saying it is a development that must be addressed.
Ubi’s position seemed to be shared by many other participants at the event. They complained that getting visas sometimes from Chinese embassy in Abuja and its consulate in Lagos can be very tedious.
And it was therefore not surprising when a member of the delegate, Mrs Lee made a point of order, calling the attention of Nigerian diplomats to similar experienced being experienced by Chinese who desire travelling to Nigeria often encountered in Beijing.
“I’m surprised that Nigerians are complaining with slow process of visa application because such scenario is no different from Chinese experience in Nigerian embassy in Beijing, China,” Lee said.
The Chinese also find an ally in the National Coordinator of Nigeria-China Business Council who said it is true that getting Nigerian visa from Beijing only compared with the Camel passing through the eye of a needle.
“On the issue of visa, what presently occurs is a situation whereby the Chinese believe that if it is difficult to get a Visa to Nigeria from Beijing, then it must be difficult for Nigerians to get Chinese visa from Abuja and Lagos too. But already, I’m aware governments at both ends have started discussing it,” the Business Council coordinator said.
In his response, Feng Zhongping, the leader of the Chinese delegate to the summit and CICIR Vice President, said inspite of the obvious challenges that seem to be bedeviling the relationship between the two countries, it is important for political actors and business people that both China and Nigeria share lots of similarities.
“Even though this is my first visit to Nigeria, I’m struck by the level of similarities between Nigeria and China and I’m convinced that we both have a lot in common. Whatever that is going on in Nigeria now was the same situation that was there in China about 15 to 20 years ago. So I am very positive of this relationship and I hope that China can use its experience to assist Nigeria in tapping its potential too,” he said.
On some of the challenges currently being, the CICIR boss said it will be required for both countries to have in place two level meeting mechanisms that can always addressed issues of divergence interests anytime they crop up.
And when asked to speak on the complaints that Chinese have developed the habit of flooding Nigerian market with substandard goods and products, the CICIR Vice President said he was getting to know that for the first time but was also quick to note that what people get are what they pay for. He said the onus lies in the business men to insist that they want quality products at reasonable prices.
“I am very sorry to hear this. But I got a feel of this recently and I think part of this ugly development has to do with the problem of smuggling. But one thing people here must understand is that in China, if you want to pay cheaply, you will also get a discounted product.
I believe the thinking of the manufacturers is that if you guys insist on getting cheaper products, they also have to lessen the quality and for me that is not a good business relation. What I think your business people should always demand for is reasonable price but good quality,” the Chinese diplomat said.