The State Councillor and Foreign Minister, People’s Republic of China, Mr Wang Yi; the President Muhammadu Buhari

The President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said no nation would witness sustainable development without infrastructural development.

He therefore thanked the People’s Republic of China for its support towards the development of infrastructure in Nigeria.

His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina,  in a statement quoted the President as speaking while receiving the State Councillor and Foreign Minister, People’s Republic of China, Mr Wang Yi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement was titled “No sustainable development possible without adequate infrastructure, says President Buhari as he meets China’s state councillor.”

“We thank China for its support to us in various ways; in building of rail, road, power, defence, and many others. You are helping us to reduce our severe infrastructural deficits, and we are glad.

“There cannot be sustainable development without infrastructural development,” Adesina quoted the President as saying.

He said Buhari pledged that Nigeria would continue to honour its obligations in the relationship with China, “as you are making a big difference, which we appreciate very much.”

The presidential spokesman also quoted Yi as applauding what he called the “mutual trust and sound personal friendship” between President Buhari and President Xi Jinping of China, noting that “it has guided the bilateral relationship between our two countries.”

He added that China loves to begin the year’s diplomatic work from Africa, and Nigeria was chosen as the first port of call in 2021, since the year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

 

“The State Councillor described Nigeria as a country with great regional and international influence, adding: ‘We trust, understand and support each other. We will continue to value each other.’

“Mr Yi said his country would encourage Chinese companies to increase their investments in Nigeria, while China would also readily share experience and techniques in areas like digital economy, defence, and many others,” the statement added.