Zhou Pingjian, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria on Wednesday said the Chinese authorities would soon approve the $5 billion facility requested by Nigeria to support infrastructure projects.
Pingjian gave the assurance during an interactive session with John Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who solicited for the support of the ruling party towards ensuring Nigeria’s ‘full execution’ of the One China policy between both countries.
Pingjian, who was accompanied by the Chinese Deputy Ambassador, Jing Lin and political officer, Peng Chen, also reiterated his country’s commitment to the China-Nigeria strategic bilateral relations.
He also stressed the need for APC and the Communist Party of China (CPC) to explored areas of cooperation and collaboration between the governing parties of both countries.
“This year is a big one for party politics in China. Every five years, we hold party conventions were we draw a new blueprint for the years ahead. That means major policy decisions will be made at the National Congress of the Communist Party of China. A new Central Committee will be elected at the Congress. The central committee will in turcn elect the new central leadership.
“China and Nigeria has been very good friends since 1971. That year we set up diplomatic relations and that year, Nigeria was one of the twenty-three countries who supported the United Nations General Assembly’s vote to admit the People’s Republic of China.
“Unfortunately, in 1999, Nigeria’s ministry of commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan which led to the setting up of a Trade mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Nigeria. That is two Chinas. For years, we have kept the pressure on Nigeria.
“Last year President Muhammadu Buhari was in Beijing for a state visit and the Chinese President, raised the issue. Upon resumption to Nigeria, President Buhari sent out directives to the Ministry of Affairs to honour and implement Nigeria’s One China policy.
“Nigeria’s policy is one China but unfortunately, it has not been fully executed. The Mission contravenes the Policy of One China… What we are asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do is to fully implement, execute the One China policy… We are requesting a change of name from the Trade Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Taipei Trade Agency, Lagos. We are not sure that has been done or not. We are also requesting the relocation of the Mission to Lagos, because Abuja is the political capital of Nigeria.
In his remarks, John Oyegun, APC National Chairman who applauded the existing cordial relationships that exist between China and Nigeria, promised to take the message of the Chinese Ambassador to the appropriate quarters.
“We take the message very seriously and we will take it up. We must not let these issues stand in the way of very important and critical relationship between Nigeria and China,” Oyegun said.
