By Abba -Eku Onyeka, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to the Chinese government to increase aid flows to Africa, particularly Nigeria. Akpabio made the appeal while hosting a Chinese delegation led by Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China.
Akpabio described Qingwei’s first-ever visit to Africa as a historic occasion that resonated with promise and possibility. He emphasized the importance of China’s trade relations with Africa, which have continued to grow, and seized the opportunity to call on the Chinese government to increase aid flows to the continent.
The Senate President stressed that this is particularly important in light of the pledge made by the Chinese government to Africa in the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Akpabio also called for strengthened parliamentary ties between Nigeria and China, emphasizing the need for enhanced collaboration between the two nations’ parliaments to deepen diplomatic and trade relations.
The delegation leader, Zhang Qingwei said his visit was to implement the “important consensus” reached by the Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who visited China in September. He therefore added that the visit was to consolidate China-Nigeria friendship and mutual trust, enhance exchanges between legislature and to step up communications and exchanges between the two countries in various areas so as to elevate bilateral relations to a new height.
As a good friend, he went on, hoped Nigeria – China relationship would achieve greater progress on the part of development and reforms.
