President Bola Tinubu has described himself as a reformer with track record.
He said this on Tuesday, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China.
The president stressed that the relationship between Nigeria and China needs to be strengthened for trade advancement and economic development.
The president said Nigeria-China ties have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Tinubu said his administration is reforming the Nigerian economy.
The president said Nigeria “holds great potential as the country with the largest population in Africa”.
He added that the country’s young population can drive economic growth.
”This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS. I thank you for the high-level of honour accorded to us,” Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, quoted Tinubu as saying.
”Relations between China and Nigeria have indeed lasted for over half a century and should be further strengthened to advance our trade and economic development programmes.
”Nigeria holds great potential as the country with the largest population in Africa and is the biggest economy with a very young population that can drive economic growth and cross-sectoral programmes.
”We have upgraded the relationship to more than what is just strategic—but a comprehensive developmental partnership.
”This comprehensive strategic partnership should result in robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region. This is very crucial.
”We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform programme in Nigeria is on a similar course.
“I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents. We have recognized the need to reform our economy, and we are doing so diligently across tax and tariff reviews to various other segments of our nation’s economy.
”Trading and investment partners will have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out.”
On his part, the Chinese president said China and Nigeria’s relations will “inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries”.
”We have found the path of seeking collective strength through unity and win-win cooperation,” the Chinese president said.
”China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries,”
