President Goodluck Jonathan
PANA
Abuja, Nigeria – President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday in Abuja said that Nigeria would welcome the deployment of China’s renowned agricultural expertise in support of efforts to positively transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector, a presidency press statement indicated here.
Signed by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, the statement said President Jonathan made the call at an audience with the visiting Chairman of the National Peoples Congress of China, Mr. Zhang Dejiang.
It said that the president also reiterated his administration’s belief that the development of the full potentials of the country’s agricultural sector would help greatly in addressing Nigeria’s problem of youth unemployment.
According to the statement, President Jonathan welcomed the decision taken during his recent state visit to China to establish a Nigeria-China Bi-National Commission, saying that the Commission would facilitate greater bilateral cooperation between both countries in areas of mutual interest.
President Jonathan seized the opportunity of Mr. Dejiang’s visit to reiterate the Federal Government’s appreciation of the financial support being given by China for the development of public infrastructure in Nigeria.
The President expressed delight at the opening of a Chinese Cultural Centre in Abuja which, he said, would further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries and promote better understanding of Chinese culture by Nigerians.
President Jonathan also thanked China for supporting Nigeria’s bid for the non-permanent UN Security Council seat for 2014/2015.
PANA reports that Mr. Dejiang’s visit to Nigeria is his first trip abroad as chairman of the National Peoples Congress of China.
