ABUJA, June 29, (Xinhua/GNA) — The growing momentum and tangible progress between China and African countries, have been lauded by Nigerian officials and experts, who highlighted the commitment exhibited so far through their partnership in jointly advancing modernization.

They made the remarks at the Second Post-FOCAC Abuja Forum, which was held Thursday in Nigeria’s capital, and organized by the Center for Contemporary China-Africa Research in Nigeria, with the theme “Jointly Advancing China-Africa Modernization and Achieving the 10 Partnership Initiative in an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.”

Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, director of the research center, said that it is axiomatic “to argue that the China-Africa relations have become a formidable force to break, a concert of giants, a bandwagon of hope and a journey of resilience.”

Noting that from Bandung in 1955 to Beijing in 2024, China and Africa have consistently rejected colonialism and subjugation, Ibrahim, also head of the political science and international relations department at the University of Abuja, said China has been supporting African countries’ modernization, growth and development, including through investment, aid and credit lines.

“Africa is for the first time assured of the beacon of true modernization and development, through: first, building mutual trust, mutual assistance, mutual learning, exchanges, and common development,” he said.

Several speakers at the event pointed to recent progress in bilateral cooperation between China and Nigeria, lauding the comprehensive strategic partnership agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries last year. They also urged the Nigerian authorities to maximize the benefits of China’s zero-tariff policy, share development opportunities, and achieve mutual revitalization goals.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, reiterated the strategic importance of the cooperation between the two countries, affirming the 10 partnership actions that aim to catalyze the cause of China-Africa modernization and elevate the China-Africa community with a shared future to new heights.

Noting significant progress in the nine months since the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Beijing last year, the Chinese envoy outlined the comprehensive scope of the 10 partnership actions, which encompass mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihood, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security.

The forum also saw the CCCR introduce the “Abuja Consensus,” a strategic framework for Africa’s modernization, encompassing a mixed economy, technological breakthrough, domestic economy, export-led growth, industrial capacity building, fiscal discipline, incremental reforms, resource control, security architecture, and intra-African trade.
GNA