The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, has said that Nigeria-China trade volume surpassed $13 billion in 2015,.
The envoy expressed confidence in the bilateral relationship between both countries, while speaking during a reception to mark the 45 years of diplomatic relations between both countries in Abuja.
He said, “As good brothers, both countries pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, respect each other’s choice of development path and promote south-south cooperation to safeguard common interests of developing countries.”
He stressed that both countries show mutual understanding and support to each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns of each side.
“China and Nigeria have enjoyed long standing friendly exchanges 45 years ago on February 10,1971 since the two countries established diplomatic relations. “In 1971, the bilateral trade volume was only $10million, nowadays the bilateral trade volume is hundred times that of 1971.
“Nigeria is China’s largest engineering contracted projects market in Africa; Nigeria is the second largest export market of China in Africa and Nigeria is also the third biggest trading partner and major investment destination in Africa,” he stated.
“Cooperative projects such as the launch of satellite, construction of railroad and the fast development of Lekki and Ogun free trade zones are the true story of China- Nigeria pragmatic cooperation,” he said.
