Our economic pact with Nigeria, by Chinese envoy

                           

                                                                      •Gu Xiaojie 

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Gu Xiaojie, who was represented by Deputy Ambassador Qin Jian at the Summit on China-Africa Cooperation: Who Really benefits? organised by Africa Today, sheds light on his country’s pact with Nigeria. Excerpts from his address:  

Given the multipronged and comprehensive development of bilateral relations, the theme for today’s Summit, China-Africa Cooperation: Who Really benefits? in my opinion catches the key point. Economic and trade cooperation always play the role of ballast in the development of China-Nigeria relations. It is very symbolic that we gather here today with so many friends in politics and business from both China and Nigeria, to renew our friendship and advance cooperation, which I believe will instill more positive energy into long-term development of bilateral relations and pragmatic cooperation.

The past year of 2015 witnessed bilateral relationship between China and Nigeria going through an important historical period and mounting a new step, with care and efforts from leaders of both countries. Bilateral political relationship advanced steadily. High-level leaders exchanged visits frequently. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Nigerian President Buhari twice last year. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, reached wide-ranging consensus, charted the direction of future development of China-Nigeria strategic partnership. Economic and trade cooperation has gained constant progress and new growth points, extending cooperation to areas beyond trade and infrastructure, such as agriculture, telecommunication, solid minerals and free trade zone. Nigeria is China’s No.1 engineering contract market, No.2 export market, No.3 trading partner, and major investment destination in Africa. People-to-people exchanges become closer, deepening understanding towards each other. The enthusiasm to learn Chinese is running high among Nigerian young people, and more and more Nigerian students wish to study in China, indicating the solid foundation of China-Nigeria friendship.

We’ll have a fresh start for the year ahead. As the year 2016 begins, I believe that all friends at present, just like me, share full expectation for even bigger progress of China-Nigeria relations in the new year. In fact, there will be at least three good news to come on the development of bilateral relations this year.

The first is the state visit to China by President Buhari, which has drawn new blueprint for the bilateral relations. This is the first visit to China by President Buhari since he came into office and also makes him the first African leader to visit China after Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Johannesburg Summit, which is of great importance to China-Nigeria and China-Africa relations. During the visit, the two leaders held talks and meetings had an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation in all fields and laidout the blueprint for bilateral relations under new circumstances. As the barometer and booster of China-Nigeria relations, frequent high-level exchanges will not only help the political mutual trust to increase, but also inject strong impetus into the pragmatic cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

The second is the celebration for the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Nigeria diplomatic relations, which will provide new opportunities for both countries. Early this year the two heads of state and foreign ministers exchanged congratulatory messages on the 45th anniversary and spoke highly of China-Nigeria diplomatic ties. Together with Nigerian government and civil organisations, the Chinese Embassy also held a series of celebrating events, such as reception, symposium and artistic performance recently. Looking back into the extraordinary path of China-Nigeria relations in the past 45 years, we might find that four major factors, namely equality and mutual trust in political exchanges, unity and coordination in international affairs, win-win cooperation in economic and trade cooperation and mutual learning in civilisation, make China and Nigeria to become sincere friends, good brothers and trustworthy partners. In the days ahead, both sides should take the 45th anniversary as an opportunity to enhance close and friendly exchanges of all levels and pragmatic cooperation in all areas to usher in an even better future for China-Nigeria relations.

The last is the implementation of the outcomes of FOCAC Johannesburg Summit, which will inject fresh vigor into the development of bilateral relations. In December last year, the FOCAC summit was held successfully in Johannesburg. This summit elevated China-Africa relations to the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, determined the ten key cooperation plans in areas of industrialisation, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, finance, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and people’s welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges, as well as peace and securityÿwhich gained unanimous support and high praise from African countries and also provided a good platform to the deepening China-Nigeria pragmatic cooperation in various fields. The most salient feature of these plans is that we want to transition from a trade pattern that has so far been dominated by resource products to more investment and industrial cooperation. By encouraging more Chinese businesses to invest in Africa, we want to help the continent accelerate its industrialisation and boost its capacity for development. So, these plans couldn’t have come at a better time. Just four months after the summit, we have gotten into touch with over 20 African countries to follow up on the outcomes of the summit. A number of early harvest items will materialise soon, and the China-Africa Fund for Industrial Cooperation is already up and running. I do believe the implementation of FOCAC outcomes will provide a stronger driving force for China-Nigeria cooperation.

The China miracle

 Now, I would like to brief you on China’s economy, to which all of you might pay great attention. For the past 30 years, China’s economy kept a two-digit growth and created “China Miracle”. In 2015, despite the weak recovery of the world economic growth, China’s economy has achieved stable and sound development. Firstly, the economy operated within an appropriate range. GDP reached 67.7 trillion yuan, representing an increase of 6.9% over the previous year—a growth rate faster than that of most other major economies. Secondly, encouraging progress was made in structural adjustment. The service sector as a proportion of GDP rose to 50.5%, accounting for more than half for the first time. The contribution of consumption toward economic growth reached 66.4%. Thirdly, new driving forces for development grew rapidly. Further progress was made in implementing the strategy of innovation-driven development. Business startups and innovations by the general public flourished, with the number of newly registered businesses rising by 21.6% in 2015, or an average of 12,000 new businesses per day. Fourthly, living standards improved. Personal per capita disposable income increased by 7.4% in real terms, overtaking the growth rate of the economy. In rural areas, greater alleviation efforts reduced the number of people living in poverty by 14.42 million.

As the deep-seated impact of international financial crisis reverberating, the world economy is still undergoing profound adjustment. China’s economy has been integrated in the rest of the world and its economic development has entered the new normal, therefore it is in consistence with general economic rules for China’s economy to shift its focus from speed and scale to quality and efficiency with slower growth speed. Notwithstanding serious challenges of the inadequate global demand and inappropriate domestic production and supply structure, the basics of China’s economy towards a positive long-term direction haven’t changed. Fundamental features of China’s economy such as good resilience, full potential and big adjustment space, haven’t changed. Good foundation and conditions upholding the sustainable growth of China’s economy haven’t changed. The progress of economic restructuring hasn’t changed. In 2016, the Chinese Government will work in accordance with the overall plan for promoting all-round economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, continue reform and opening up,            follow the new vision of development, maintain a balance between ensuring steady growth and making structural adjustments, strengthen supply-side structural reform, accelerate the fostering of new driving forces for development, cut overcapacity, excess inventory and deleverage, reduce costs, strengthen points of weakness, and ensure that China’s economy, like a gigantic ship, breaks the waves and goes the distance.

Recently, the Fourth Session of the 12th National People’s Congress and the Fourth Session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee of China were held in Beijing. The two sessions, called in brief by Chinese usually, are one of the most important political events in China. The two sessions this year deliberated and passed the draft of China’s “13th Five-Year Plan”, and discussed some hot issues such as comprehensively deepening reform, enhancing endogenous dynamic of economic growth, strengthening supply-side structural reform and maintaining a balance between environment protection and economic growth. The “13th Five-year Plan” raised the concept of achieving innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. This reflects China’s development guideline and confidence, signifies an in-depth reform affecting the overall development of China, and provides ground support for long-term economic stability and development. During the “13th Five-year Plan” period, the Chinese Government has both confidence and capability to maintain a mid-to-high level economic growth, to sustain China’s high contribution to global economic growth, and to continue offering development opportunities to all other countries.

Nigeria…an important partner

Nigeria is an important partner of China and the biggest economy and most populous country in Africa. China will firmly implement the policy of “sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith” towards Nigeria and Africa, uphold the correct viewpoint of righteousness and benefit, join hands with Nigeria for win-win cooperation and persist in planning and promoting bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.

Our friends in Africa say that if you want to go fast, walk alone; and if you want to go far, walk together. Chinese people say that when big rivers have water, the small ones are filled; and when small rivers haven’t water, the big ones are dried up. All these sayings speak to one same truth, that is, only through win-win cooperation can we make big and sustainable achievements that are beneficial to all.

While celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Nigeria diplomatic relations and President Buhari’s state visit to China, our two countries should take these opportunities to give full play to the two major advantages of traditional friendship and strong economic complementarity, and make full use of the FOCAC platform. To this end, I have the following specific suggestions:

To enhance political mutual trust, maintain close and friendly exchanges of all levels in all areas; deepen cooperation in areas including infrastructure construction, industrial parks and zones, industrial connection, resources exploration and utilization, processing and manufacturing, related industrial production capacity and agricultural modernizsation; start the construction of a series of big projects; expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges in education, science and technology, culture, healthcare, youth, media and others; and beef up cooperation in security, enhance communication and coordination on major international issues, so as to jointly safeguard the common interests of China and Africa as well as other developing countries. In this way, the China -Nigeria strategic partnership with win-win cooperation at the core could bring tangible benefits to the two peoples.