President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to China in the first week of September where he is expected to perfect various deals including an agreement to fast-track the completion of the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos Kano high-speed rail line, according to the President’s media aide, Ajuri Ngelale.
Ngelale told reporters at the State House that the high-profile trip will among other benefits, bolster economic ties and secure investments for the country. He also added that the President Tinubu will engage in strategic meetings with 10 chief executives of major Chinese corporations, boast assets totaling over $3 trillion across various sectors of the economy.
Ajuri listed the sectors as Information and Communication Technology (ICT); oil and gas; aluminum production; seaport construction; financial services and satellite technology development.
Ngelale said: “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will depart for the People’s Republic of China, most specifically, Beijing, from the nation’s capital within the first week of September to engage in a series of meetings and activities with immediate and future benefit to the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian people.
“Mr. President, will conduct site visits to two major Chinese corporations; Huawei Technologies, as well as the China Rail and Construction Corporation, (CRCC). This is with a view to achieve one of Mr. President’s top agenda items, which is the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high speed rail line.
“Thereafter His Excellency, Mr. President, will meet 10 selected chief executive officers of 10 major Chinese corporations with assets under management totaling over $3 trillion across multiple sectors of the economy, including information and communications technology, refining oil and gas, aluminum production, seaport construction, harbour construction and dredging services, financial services, satellite technology development, as well as many other critical sectors.”
Ngelale also added that President Tinubu is scheduled to hold talks with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. Tinubu as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, will also join other African leaders at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit and will deliver key remarks on behalf of the region, addressing critical matters of mutual interest between China and Africa.
“At this FOCAC Summit, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and certainly would proceed to the high-level peace and security plenary, where he will further deliver remarks on peace and security in the region and in Africa in his capacity as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “This engagement is expected to yield tangible, immediate and future dividends for the sake of the Nigerian economy and for the benefit of the Nigerian people and the President is placing a premium on deliverables, ensuring that this is not a talk-shop, but that this is something that will yield results for our people, justifying any expenditure that is made during the course of this trip,” Ngelale said.
