The China-Nigeria strategic partnership has been improved for the past few years, said visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, on Friday.
In a meeting with Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Yang said after the two countries established strategic partnership in 2005, both China and Nigeria witnessed all-round development in their bilateral relations.
He said the mutual trust between the two sides was deepened and exchanges in various sectors were frequent. The two countries were engaged in closed cooperation in international and regional affairs. The economic and trade cooperation continued to make progress and the human and cultural exchanges were facilitated on wide ranges.
He noted that under the new situation, the two countries are expected to enhance cooperation and exchanges so as to cope with challenges.
China is willing to make joint efforts with Nigeria to promote mutual understanding and trust so as to facilitate economic and trade cooperation, he said.
The Chinese foreign minister called for both sides to improve their strategic partnership and benefit the two peoples.
After the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, he said, the Chinese government is willing to cooperate with Nigeria and other forum member states to fulfill the eight-point measures for China-Africa cooperation.
Jonathan spoke highly of the Nigeria-China relations, saying Nigeria sets great store by the strategic partnership between the countries.
He said on the climate change and other international issues, the two countries support each other and played a key role in the achievement in the Copenhagen Conference. The two countries made a major contribution to the
unity of the developing countries.
Nigeria will cooperate with China to further strengthen and develop the friendly cooperation and raise the Nigeria-China strategic partnership to a new standard, he said.
Jonathan reassured that Nigeria will adhere to one-China policy and it will never change its stand on this issue.
On the same day, Yang also held talks with his Nigerian counterpart Oyo Maduekekwe on the development of the bilateral relations. The two ministers attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents and jointly gave a
press congress.
The Chinese top diplomat arrived in Nigeria on Friday morning for a day-long visit to the West African country.