TheCable

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday signalled its intention to enter into partnership with the Communist Party of China (CPC), the founding and ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

According to Edegbe Odemwingie, APC’s assistant director of publicity, this was the result of a meeting held between Mai Mala Buni, APC’s national secretary and a Chinese government delegation led by Qin Jian, chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria,  in Abuja on Wednesday.

At the meeting, Jian, disclosed to the APC leadership that the Chinese President Xi Jinping had invited President Muhammadu Buhari to China on a state visit on a yet-to-be-announced date.

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 added that the 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 the party and the Chinese CPC can partner.

Qin Jian said: “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.”

Jian added that 2016 marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.

“We 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,” he said.

“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.”