1. Political relations
The People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of
Nigeria established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971.
Bilateral relations have ever since achieved a smooth and steady
development.
Chinese leaders who visited Nigeria are as follows: Vice Premier
Geng Biao (October 1978), Vice Premier Huang Hua (November 1981),
Vice Premier Tian Jiyun (November 1984), Vice Premier Wu Xueqian
(March 1990), Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen
(January 1995), State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State
Council Luo Gan (September 1996), Premier Li Peng (May 1997), State
Councilor Ismail Amat as President Jiang Zeming's special
envoy??(May 1999), Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (January
2000), President Jiang Zemin (April 2002), and Chairman of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo
(November 2004).
Leaders of Nigeria who visited China are as follows: Head of
State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (September 1974), Vice President Dr. Alex
I. Ekwueme (March 1983), Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ibrahim
Babangida (September 1984), Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Sani
Abacha (October 1989), Chief of the Defense Staff, General
Abdulsalami Abubakar (July 1997), President Olusegun Obasanjo
(April 1999 and August 2001), President of Senate Anyim (December
2001), Vice President Abubakar (July 2002), and Deputy Speaker
Nwuche of the National Assembly (July 2002).
2. Trade relations and economic and technical
cooperation
China and Nigeria have signed a number of agreements on trade,
economic and technical cooperation, scientific and technological
cooperation, as well as an agreement on investment protection. The
two countries set up a joint economic and trade commission. The
trade volume between the two countries in 2002 reached US$1.168
billion, of which China's exports were US$1.047 billion, and
imports US$121 million. China's main exports to Nigeria are light
industrial, and mechanical and electrical products. China mainly
imports from Nigeria petroleum, timber, and cotton, etc.
Up to now, China has set up more than 30 solely funded companies
or joint ventures in Nigeria. The main projects contracted or
undertaken in the form of labor service by Chinese companies in
Nigeria are the rehabilitation of Nigerian railway and the
sportsmen hostel with the Abuja Sports Complex. Chinese main
companies that have undertaken projects are China Geological
Engineering Company, China Harbor Engineering Company (Group) and
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
3. Cooperation in cultural, educational and military
fields
China and Nigeria have signed an agreement on cultural
cooperation and a protocol on cooperation between institutions of
higher learning of the two countries. China has begun to provide
scholarships for Nigerian students for their study in China in
1993. From 2002 to 2003, there are 24 Nigerian students studying in
China.
The Nigerian Defense Academy has sent a number of delegations to
China. In May 1998, Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral O.
Miko Agigebi, visited China. In November of the same year,
Lieutenant General Liang Guanglie, commander of Shenyang Military
Area Command, led a military delegation to visit Nigeria. In June
2001, the Chinese military delegation headed by Deputy Chief of the
General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), General Wu
Quanxu visited Nigeria. In September, General Chi Haotian, chairman
of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee, state councilor and defense minister,
visited Nigeria. In July 2001, Nigerian Minister of the State
Defense Ministry Adelaja visited China. In November 2002, Nigerian
Air Commander of the State Defense Ministry D. Phikai visited China
to attend the International Aviation Exhibition held in Zhuhai, in
south China's Guangdong Province.
4. Major agreements and documents
In February 1971, the governments of China and Nigeria signed
the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations
Between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
In August 2001, the two countries signed the Agreement on Trade
Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Agreement
Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment
Promotion and Protection.
In April 2002, the two governments signed the Agreement Between
the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Avoidance of Double
Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes
on Income.
In July 2002, the two governments signed the Agreement on
Consular Affairs, the Agreement on Cooperation on Strengthening
Management of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Diversion
of Precursor Chemical, and the Agreement on Tourism
Cooperation.?
(Chinese Foreign Ministry October 10, 2006)