China has reaffirmed its readiness to deepen economic ties with Nigeria through a formal Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at leveraging Beijing’s newly announced zero-tariff trade policy for African nations. The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, made this known at the Second Post-FOCAC Abuja Forum held on Thursday.
Speaking at the high-level international conference themed around the implementation of the “Ten Partnership Actions” from the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, Ambassador Dunhai said China is prepared to negotiate with Nigeria “as early as possible” to maximise the benefits of its duty-free policy.
“China stands ready to negotiate an Economic Partnership Agreement for Common Development with Nigeria as early as we can, in order to maximise the benefits from China’s zero-tariff policy, share development opportunities, and achieve mutual revitalisation goals,” he said.
He noted several major bilateral projects have recorded tangible progress recently, including the operationalisation of the lithium processing plant in Nasarawa, ongoing revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, and completion of critical infrastructure like Abuja’s N16 main road and Greater Water Supply Project.
“These developments underscore our strong economic complementarity and bright prospects for win-win cooperation,” Dunhai emphasised.
The ambassador further lauded the progress made since the FOCAC Beijing summit in implementing the “Ten Partnership Actions,” which include initiatives in infrastructure, technology, green development, and healthcare. He reiterated China’s commitment to helping Africa strengthen economic self-reliance.
“Within just nine months of the FOCAC Summit, China and Africa have made visible progress. Strategic trust has been deepened, cooperation expanded, and multilateral coordination reinforced,” he said.
In a bid to drive inclusive development, Dunhai highlighted China’s removal of tariffs on exports from 53 African countries—including Nigeria—and its openness to increased trade and investment in new energy, manufacturing, and health sectors.
In response, the Nigerian Coordinator of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, said the current administration is committed to building a more institutionalised and development-driven bilateral relationship.
“With the elevation of Nigeria-China relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, our focus is now on translating goodwill into measurable development outcomes. The zero-tariff trade opportunity must be harnessed to make Nigeria a net exporter to China,” Tegbe stated.
He revealed that Nigeria has earmarked over $8 billion in priority infrastructure projects for implementation under the FOCAC framework, while also partnering with China in health, agriculture, security, and education.
Tegbe also highlighted the importance of China’s pledge to send 2,000 healthcare workers to Africa and its investment in hospital alliance networks, which aligns with Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain.
The NCSP, he added, is promoting education and green energy collaborations, while pursuing further disbursements from China’s $51 billion Africa-focused fund.
Meanwhile, Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, described the evolving relationship as “a concert of giants and a bandwagon of hope.”
“The China-Africa relationship has grown into a force of resilience and shared prosperity. It is a journey that redefines South-South cooperation,” he stated.
As both nations move toward formalising trade deals, Nigeria is expected to benefit from expanded market access, improved infrastructure, and greater investment flows under the zero-tariff framework.