APC Seeks Cooperation With Communist Party Of China
The All Progressives Congress, APC, on
Wednesday signalled its intention to enter into
partnership and cooperation with the
Communist Party of China, CPC, the founding
and ruling political party of the People’s
Republic of China.
This was a fallout of a meeting held between
the APC’s national secretary, Mai Mala Buni,
and a Chinese government delegation led by
the chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy
in Nigeria, Qin Jian. The meeting was held at
the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
At the meeting, the Chinese chargé d’affaires,
Mr. Jian, disclosed to the APC leadership that
the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, has invited
President Muhammadu Buhari to China on a
state visit on a yet-to-be-announced date.
Mr. Buni who was represented at the meeting
by APC’s Director of Organisation, Kyari
Abubakar, said: “China is a very important
technical and trading partner to Nigeria. Both
countries have enjoyed excellent social,
economic and cultural relations. As China is
aware, Nigeria recently witnessed a change of
government which ushered in the
administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari. The time for better cooperation
between both countries is now as the APC and
the President Buhari administration works to
deliver on its Change mandate.”
He said healthy relations between Nigeria and
China would ultimately be of benefit to Africa.
At party level, the APC National Secretary
identified capacity building and collaboration
as areas Nigeria’s APC and the Chinese CPC
can partner.
Meanwhile, Qin Jian reported that following
the successful December 2015 Forum on
China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) summit
which brought together Chinese senior
government officials and most African heads
of government to Johannesburg, South Africa,
the Chinese President Xi Jinping has
announced a $60 billion aid package for
Africa.
The aid package would finance a broad range
of assistance programmes to help Africa
industrialise, modernise its agricultural
production, boost the skills of its workers,
build infrastructure and improve its health
care.
Qin Jian said 2016 marks the 45th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between
Nigeria and China.
“We (China) have enjoyed positive and
beneficial partnership with Nigeria in
healthcare, economy, infrastructure
development, social/cultural exchange and
other areas… Nigeria has the biggest economy
in Africa and is a very important partner with
China.
“The Chinese CPC and Nigeria’s ruling APC
will pursue better cooperation which will be of
benefit to both nations. Both parties can share
experiences on how to develop the economy
and protect the environment as well as
technical support and capacity building where
necessary,” Qin Jian said.