President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Sunday, having concluded his official visit to China and a brief stay in the United Kingdom.
The president went to China last week. He stopped in Dubai on the way there and got to Beijing on Sunday.
During his recent official visit to China, President Tinubu engaged in significant high-level meetings with prominent Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Tinubu Is Back In Nigeria After His Official Trip Abroad
This diplomatic endeavor culminated in the signing of five mutually beneficial Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between Nigeria and China. These agreements are designed to bolster bilateral relations and foster enhanced cooperation across diverse sectors, thereby contributing to the advancement of both nations.
President Tinubu engaged in bilateral discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, followed by a banquet and cultural gala performance hosted by President Xi Jinping and his spouse, Peng Liyuan, on the eve of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.
Among the signed MOUs, the cooperation plan between Nigeria and China stands out. This plan aims to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative, fostering collaboration in the peaceful application of nuclear energy and reinforcing cooperation on human resource development under the Global Development Initiative.
Others were the Memorandum of Understanding on Media Exchange and Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
Nigeria also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to build the 68 km Lagos Green rail line, designed to run from the Lekki Free Zone to the Marina and connect with the Blue Line.
A memorandum of understanding for the $1 billion iron ore-to-steel project planned for Kogi State was also signed.
Before attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, President Tinubu visited Huawei and China Railway Construction Corporation, later delivering a speech at FOCAC as ECOWAS chairman, stressing the importance of multilateralism and cooperation for global peace.
He concluded his visit to China by meeting with representatives of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation’s China chapter, where he discussed the importance of his government’s reforms and expressed hope they would lead Nigeria to achieve better infrastructure, including good roads, constant power, and improved schools, similar to China.
President Tinubu subsequently departed from Beijing to London, where he spent a few days. Last Thursday, he respectfully engaged in a meeting with King Charles III to discuss pressing matters concerning climate change and potential collaborative actions to address these challenges.