China Endorses Tinubu Reforms, Seeks Continuity Beyond 2027

The Chinese government has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu and called for their consolidation beyond 2027. China’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said the reforms were yielding tangible results.

Dunhai spoke during a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Abuja. He cited growing trade, improved macroeconomic indicators and renewed investor confidence as evidence of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Trade volume hits $18bn

He said bilateral trade volume reached $18 billion in the first half of the year. Nigeria’s exports to China also recorded significant growth over the past three years.

Dunhai said the developments had strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s economic prospects. He added that China was prepared to deepen its investments in the country.

He assured that Beijing would pursue mutually beneficial partnerships guided by the principle that Africa’s resources belong to Africans. He said emphasis would be on high-quality investments and the utilisation of local human capital.

Agriculture, health and education

The ambassador said the visit was his first to the First Lady since assuming office in Nigeria about two years ago. He said the engagement was aimed at expressing China’s appreciation for the Renewed Hope Agenda and the complementary interventions of the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative.

He also explored opportunities for expanded cooperation in healthcare, education, agriculture and food security.

Senator Tinubu described China’s recognition of the administration’s reform efforts as encouraging. She said support from a longstanding strategic partner was significant as Nigeria pursued its development objectives.

She welcomed China’s interest in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, especially its willingness to collaborate on deploying technology to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen food security. She pledged to encourage collaboration between the Chinese government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“When friendship has transcended this long, it begins to yield results, and we are beginning to see the results now,” she said.

Tinubu stressed the need to ensure that the benefits of Nigeria’s transformation reached vulnerable citizens. She said targeted interventions remained critical to improving their living conditions.

“We are looking at how the vulnerable ones would be lifted. We know this will help us a lot,” she added.

She urged Nigerians to embrace the country’s ongoing transformation, declaring: “Nigeria is transforming, and we must embrace the new Nigeria.”

Strategic partnership since 2024

Nigeria and China elevated their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024 during President Tinubu’s state visit to China. The move opened new avenues for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure and other areas of mutual interest.

The talks signal continued Chinese interest in Nigerian agriculture, healthcare and education, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security named as a partner on food security.