PeakNews Online
Beijing, China — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Beijing on Sunday morning for a five-day official state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Nigeria and China.
The President’s aircraft touched down at Beijing’s Capital International Airport at approximately 9 a.m. local time, where he was received by senior Chinese government officials. Welcoming him on arrival were the governors of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Kaduna State, Sani Uba, along with key members of his cabinet.
The visit is highlighted by Tinubu’s participation in the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, which will be held from September 4-6. The summit, themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” will bring together leaders from across the African continent and China to discuss development strategies and cooperation.
President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and engage with top Chinese business leaders on the sidelines of the summit. Key items on the agenda include the signing of memorandums of understanding to bolster economic and infrastructural collaborations. The President will also lead an African presentation at the summit, highlighting the importance of China-Africa relations.
During his stay, Tinubu will visit major Chinese corporations, including Huawei Technologies and the China Railway and Construction Corporation (CRCC). His discussions with CRCC will focus on accelerating the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high-speed rail project, a key infrastructural priority for Nigeria.
The visit is expected to enhance economic ties and facilitate further partnerships between Nigeria and China in sectors such as technology, transportation, and infrastructure development.
