The Opening Ceremony of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) and the 18th China Engineering and Technology Exhibition took place on Thursday in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.
Held at the Abuja Trade and Convention Center, the event was attended by distinguished personalities, including Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria; Said Ahmed Alkali, Minister of Transportation Joseph Olasukanmi Tegbe, Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership; Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Minister of State for Works; Lai Maingyong, Hunan Provincial Political Consultative Conference; Fang Qiuchen, Chairman of the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA), business executives, investors, and members of the diplomatic community.
In his remarks, Ambassador Yu Dunhai emphasized Nigeria’s pivotal role in China-Africa cooperation, citing its status as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation. He noted that Nigeria is China’s largest engineering contract market and a significant trading partner.
Ambassador Yu stated that the CAETE exhibition aims to implement the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the discussions held between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in September, which elevated the two countries’ relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, setting a historic foundation for future collaboration.
“This expo showcases innovations across various sectors, including engineering, biotechnology, and green energy, aimed at promoting industrialization and agricultural modernization in Nigeria,” he said.
Ambassador Yu highlighted the successful implementation of major projects by Chinese companies in Nigeria over the past 40 years, including the Nigerian Railway Modernization Project and the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station.
“These initiatives have positively influenced Nigeria’s economic and social development,” he added.
Fang Qiuchen, Chairman of CHINCA said Chinese enterprises in Nigeria have been instrumental in fostering infrastructure cooperation between China and Nigeria. Notable projects include the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Dangote Oil Refinery, Lagos Rail Mass Transit, and the Lagos Blue Line Rail.
He unveiled plans to collaborate with Nigeria in areas such as blue economy, renewable energy, smart city development, agriculture modernization and infrastructure projects.
“With the advent of green development and the digital economy, both China and Nigeria are exploring the use of advanced technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and AI to enhance the intelligence and automation of infrastructure. The integration of digital technology with new infrastructure, the blue economy, and agricultural modernization has become a focal point for cooperation,” Fang stated.
Earlier in his remarks, Joseph Tegbe, Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, mentioned that the expo aligns with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to position Nigeria as a critical hub in West Africa and strengthen ties between China and Africa.
The three-day expo will feature a diverse range of exhibition areas, including New Energy, Architecture, Machinery, Power Transmission and Transformation, Home Appliances and furniture, Manufacturing, Pan-Infrastructure, Circular Economy, and Comprehensive Area.
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