We’ll navigate China-Africa solidarity ship toward bright future – Envoy

The Consul-General of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing, says her country’s economy shows strong momentum, resilience, and vitality, injecting energy into global economic recovery and cooperation.

Yuqing made this known at the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The event was organised by the Chinese Consulate in Lagos on Monday.

She said China had become the world’s second-largest economy and successfully eliminated absolute poverty.

Yuqing said that, in 2023, China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 47 times larger than in 1978, the year of reform and opening-up.

She added that, in the first half of 2024, the GDP grew by five percent and foreign trade increased by 6.1 percent.

“Over the past 75 years since the founding of New China, we have pursued our dreams with relentless efforts and determination, rising from a ‘latecomer to modernisation’ to a ‘driving force of global modernisation’.

“Looking to the future, we are full of confidence that Chinese-style modernisation is not only feasible but also stable, and we will continue to achieve the great cause of building a strong nation and rejuvenating the Chinese people through joint efforts,” she said.

Speaking on China-Nigeria relations, Yuqing emphasised the first of October being both China’s National Day and Nigeria’s Independence Day.

She said that jointly celebrating the date had become a cherished tradition and an expression of friendship between peoples of both nations.

She said that her office would continue to serve compatriots in the consular district and promote friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The envoy said thather office would continue to work to build a higher-level China-Nigeria and China-Africa community with a shared future.

“Over the past half-century, China and Nigeria have continuously deepened exchanges at all levels and across various fields based on mutual benefit.

“We have also leveraged complementary strengths to actively promote pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, improving the well-being of our peoples and steadfastly safeguarding the common interests of developing countries in international and regional affairs.

“As long as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder, hand-in-hand, passing the baton of China-Africa friendship across generations, we will surely navigate the great ship of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation towards a bright future,” Yuqing said.

Supreme News reports that a special China-Nigeria Friendship and Cooperation publication was launched at the celebration.

Also, the China-Nigeria Friendship Contribution Award was presented to Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Prof. Even Ubi, Acting Director of Research and Studies Department, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs; and Mr. Ikenna Emewu, Executive Director, Afri-China Media Centre, among other personalities.