By ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week in Beijing, as part of a strategic visit aimed at bolstering economic ties and technological cooperation between the two nations. The visit, announced by Nigerian government spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale on Tuesday, will coincide with the China-Africa Cooperation Summit, where Tinubu will join other African leaders.
“This is going to be part of a broader engagement where the two heads of state will discuss matters of mutual interest across not just the economy, but also on issues of national, regional, and international security,” Ngelale stated, underlining the comprehensive nature of the planned talks.
The visit comes at a crucial time for Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, as Tinubu has recently initiated significant economic reforms. The Nigerian leader’s agenda in China reflects his administration’s focus on attracting investment and fostering partnerships in key sectors.
A highlight of Tinubu’s itinerary includes site visits to two major Chinese companies: telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies and the China Rail and Construction Corporation. The latter visit is particularly significant as Nigeria seeks to complete a high-speed rail line linking Ibadan in the southwest to the capital, Abuja, a project that could dramatically improve the country’s transportation infrastructure.
In addition to these corporate visits, Tinubu is scheduled to meet with CEOs from ten major Chinese companies. These firms represent a diverse range of industries including information and communications technology, oil and gas, aluminum production, seaport and harbor construction, financial services, and satellite technology development. These meetings underscore Nigeria’s ambition to attract foreign investment across multiple sectors of its economy.
