Nigeria, China Satisfy With Bilateral Cooperation
Ngozi Anibogu, Abuja
Nigeria
and China have expressed satisfaction with the
success recorded in their bilateral cooperation and
agreed to shore up trade relation.
Speaking at the opening of the 5th session of the
Joint Commission of both countries, the Nigerian
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Jibril
Maigari said bilateral trade hit$ 7.2 in the first
quarter of this year.
However, the Minister said trade balance remained in
favour of China and urged the country to encourage
Chinese importers to import more Nigerian products
to bridge the trade gap.
Alhaji Jibril acknowledged China's role in Nigeria’s
economy, pointing out in particular the achievement
of Chinese entrepreneurs in oil blocs allocated to
them in the Nigerian oil fields.
The Foreign Minister announced that the Federal
Capital Territory Administration had provided a land
at the heart of the capital city, Abuja, for the
establishment of the China-Nigeria Cultural Centre.
In his speech, the Chinese vice Minister for
Commerce, Mr Chen Jian, said China was ready to
expand its bilateral cooperation with Nigeria in
many fields and called for the strengthening of the
relations existing between both countries.
QASIM/Austeen