By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Peoples Republic of China Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Zhou Pingjian has called for the support of the All Progressives Congress (APC), of Nigeria in ensuring Nigeria’s ‘full execution’ of the One China Policy between both countries.
The Ambassador who was accompanied by the Chinese Deputy Ambassador, Jing Lin and Political Officer, Peng Chen, made the call when they paid a courtesy visit to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
This was contained in a statement from the All Progressives Congress and made available to Sundiata Post on Wednesday, 22, 2017.
According to the statement, Pingjian, who briefed the APC National Chairman and members of the party’s National Working Committee present on China’s domestic politics and China-Nigeria strategic bilateral relations, also explored areas cooperation and collaboration between the governing parties of both countries-the APC and the Communist Party of China.
The Ambassador who informed that, “This year is a big one for party politics in China, since we hold party conventions every 5 years were we draw a new blueprint for the years ahead, added that major policy decisions are made at the National Congress of the Communist Party of China. He stated that a new Central Committee will be elected at the congress. The central committee will in turn elect the new central leadership.” Pingjian disclosed.
Pingjian disclosed that “ China has pledged and almost approved $5billion to support infrastructure projects in Nigeria, stressed that, “China and Nigeria has had good diplomatic relation since 1971 and that Nigeria was one of the twenty-three countries who supported the United Nations General Assembly’s vote to admit the People’s Republic of China.
He recalled that a United Nations 1971 resolution ensured the Communist Peoples Republic of China (mainland China) assumed the Republic of China’s (Taiwan) place in the General Assembly as well as its place as one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
“Unfortunately, in 1999, Nigeria’s ministry of commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan which led to the setting up of a Trade mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Nigeria. That is two Chinas and for years, we have kept the pressure on Nigeria. Last year, President Muhammadu Buhari was in Beijing for a state visit and the Chinese President, raised the issue. Upon return to Nigeria, President Buhari sent out directives to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to honour and implement Nigeria’s One China policy, he said.
According to him, “Nigeria’s policy is one China but unfortunately, it has not been fully executed. He therefore urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see to the full implementation, execution of One China policy”.
“We are requesting a change of name from the Trade Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Taipei Trade Agency, Lagos, as well as the relocation of the Mission to Lagos because Abuja is the political capital of Nigeria, he added.
In his response, the APC National Chairman promised to take the message of the Chinese Ambassador to the appropriate quarters and thanked him for the cordial relationships that exist between China and Nigeria.
Oyegun said, “We take the message very seriously and we will take it up. We must not let these issues stand in the way of very important and critical relationship between Nigeria and China.”
Other All Progressives Congress officials present at the meeting were the APC National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni; Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Lawal Shuaibu; National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu; National Treasurer, Alh. Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa; Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Oji Ngofa and Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, Edwin Ikhinmwin.
