LAGOS, JULY 17, 2018 – The Consul-General, Republic of China in Lagos, Chao Xiaoliang has assured that bilateral relations between Nigeria and China would continue to improve with more understandings of Chinese business communities in Lagos of Nigerian Customs policies.
He said this Monday during a Seminar organized by his office between Chinese business community in Lagos and Nigerian Customs, headed by the Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Customs, Zone ‘A’ Mr. Aminu Mohammed Dahiru.
At the end of the Seminar which succinctly analysed the role of Nigerian Customs Service with regard to importation and exportation process among others, Xiaoliang remarked that the Seminar would go a long way to tightening the knot of economic relations that has been existing between the two countries.
“Two years ago, we organized a joint seminar with Nigerian customs service which brought a lot to bilateral economic exchange.
“With the rapid development of China-Nigeria relation, I do believe that this kind of seminar has practical meanings in the new era” he said.
The Consular General also noted that China-Nigeria strategic partnership has enjoyed great progress in recent years with bilateral economic and trade exchanges becoming more and more frequent.
He disclosed that in 2017, the China-Nigeria bilateral trade volume reached nearly $14 billion with increase of 29.7% over the previous year, adding that Nigeria has continued to be the third biggest trade partner of China in Africa.
He revealed that from January to May, 2018, the China-Nigeria bilateral trade volume has reached 5.8 billion dollars, with increase of 7.3% over the previous year, signifying that China-Nigeria economic and trade co-operation has great potential.
He promised that China with trade partners that spans 137 countries would continue to work together with the rest of the world including Nigeria, promoting a community with a shared future for mankind.
“China and Nigeria as developing countries share a lot of similarities with economy of both countries highly complementary, bilateral co-operation sounding louder and louder, evolving great potentials” he said.
He disclosed that in the next few days, Chinese President, Xi Jinping will be visiting Africa, adding that China would soon hold China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit in Beijing by September and that First China International Import Expo would hold in November in Shanghai which already has attracted more than 30 Nigerian companies, noting that these events would further strengthen China-Nigeria relationship.
Dahiru in his comment said that as long as Chinese business communities continue to abide by the law of Nigerian Customs and always do what is right, there is no end to the good relationship that has been existing between the two countries.
