Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, says China will provide a grant of RMB200 million, equivalent to about N40.3 billion, to support development projects in Nigeria.
Yu disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Dunoma Ahmed, in Abuja.
He said the grant would finance projects jointly agreed upon by the governments of China and Nigeria, in line with efforts to support the country’s development priorities.
According to the ambassador, the assistance forms part of China’s continued support for Nigeria’s economic growth and national development, as well as efforts to translate bilateral agreements into tangible benefits for citizens.
Yu noted that diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria had remained an important component of China-Africa relations since their establishment 55 years ago.
He said the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership had entered a new phase of high-quality development under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
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The ambassador added that both countries had maintained close communication and coordination to implement agreements reached by their leaders, as well as the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit.
He said the focus was to ensure that bilateral cooperation delivered concrete results capable of improving the lives of people in both countries.
Responding, Ahmed expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government for its continued support for Nigeria’s economic and social development.
He said the grant demonstrated China’s commitment to Nigeria’s development and reflected the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
Ahmed assured that Nigeria would ensure the effective utilisation of the funds and work closely with China to implement existing bilateral cooperation agreements.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening relations with China and ensuring that bilateral cooperation delivered greater benefits to both countries.
The meeting also focused on the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China and ongoing efforts to implement the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit.
