Tinubu to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing for key bilateral talks

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today (Tuesday) as part of his diplomatic mission to China.

Tinubu, who left Abuja last Thursday, is on an important visit aimed at strengthening the ties between Nigeria and China.

The visit will take place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where President Tinubu will be welcomed by President Xi Jinping. The ceremonial events will include an inspection of a guard of honor, a wreath-laying ceremony to honor fallen heroes, and a 21-gun salute.

The bilateral agreements to be signed will focus on several key areas, including green economy initiatives, agricultural development, satellite technology, media enterprise growth, blue economy projects, and national planning cooperation. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for discussions on economic cooperation, security matters, and other pressing global issues.

Additionally, President Tinubu is expected to host a roundtable dinner with top executives from Chinese companies at the China World Hotel in Beijing. Yesterday, he visited Huawei Technologies and the China Rail and Construction Corporation (CRCC) to expedite the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high-speed rail line.

Tinubu will also engage with CEOs from ten major Chinese corporations with assets totaling over $3 trillion, spanning sectors such as ICT, oil and gas, aluminum production, seaport construction, financial services, and satellite technology. These meetings aim to deliver immediate and long-term benefits to the Nigerian economy.

The president will also participate in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The summit, themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” will see Tinubu, as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, deliver key remarks on behalf of the region.

On Thursday, Tinubu will give an eight-minute speech on peace and security and take part in a high-level plenary to address regional and continental security challenges.

Furthermore, a Nigerian delegation led by Minister of Transportation Senator Sa’idu Alkali will meet with senior officials from China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to review progress on rail infrastructure projects. This meeting aims to assess completed and ongoing projects, share experiences, and strategize for future developments, aligning with the president’s visit to China.

The visit is expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation between Nigeria and China, particularly in railway infrastructure development.