By Josfyn Uba
The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuquing has said that to build a closer China-Nigeria community with a shared future, they need more think thank scholars who understand China, Nigeria, Africa and even the world.
She made this known at the first edition of the Lagos Forum 2024 Book Launch, held last week, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It was organized by the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs in partnership with The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Africa China Economy Magazine, and Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China.
The Lagos Forum 2024 with its theme, The Chinese In The Nigerian Economy: Deepening Development Cooperation Towards A Shared Future, A Better World, was a convergence of the diplomatic corps, egg-heads, academia, the Chinese business community and other eminent personalities.
In her speech, the Consulate-General, quoting President Xi Jinping said that China is a reliable friend and sincere partner for African countries in their effort to safeguard independence, promote development and revitalization.
“China stands ready to strengthen multilateral coordination with African countries and the AU to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity”
“China and Nigeria are strategic partners and engagement between the two countries is a clear example of the promotion of equal and orderly multi-polarity of the world”
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, Director General, NIIA Prof Osaghae, stated while China has its own economic framework and policy on Africa, it is also imperative for African countries to adopt their own policy to help them build more robust and better economic ties with China. He noted that China will not give anything without having their national interest at heart.
In his own remark, Prof. Femi Otubanjo said that the forum was an avenue for people to diffuse the perception that China in their pursuit of establishing business interests in Africa was being pushed by the West.
The event was also the official launch of Ikenna Emewu’s new book, “The Chinese in the Nigerian Economy”. The book is a research report written by Emewu, a renowned journalist and Publisher, Africa China Economy Magazine, after visiting more than ten Chinese enterprises in a span of two years was unveiled to the public in a colourful ceremony led by Ms. Yuquing and supported by other personalities. The book was reviewed by another veteran journalist, Nik Ogbulie.
“With keen observation and professionalism, he objectively introduces and evaluates the contribution made by Chinese enterprises to Nigeria’s economic development. Ms. Yuquing thanked the author for his efforts and urged more scholars to emulate Emewu so as to draw a picture of China-Nigeria friendship.
Meanwhile, Ikenna Emewu, whose paper presentation was anchored on “ A Need for a Nigerian Policy Framework on China’s Global South Economic Growth Agenda” questioned how exactly Nigeria engages with China and by extension, the Global South agenda which is the current big trend in global political and economic alignment.
Stressing the need for Nigeria to redefine its engagement with the Global South, he observed that in its 24 year membership of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation FOCAC) Nigeria has never hosted the summit or ministerial conference with its clout and standing in Africa.
He stressed that if Nigeria desires to take a firm stand on the entire global agenda, there is the need to map out a structured, organized and planned approach, driven by laid out policies and not just some haphazard thing to fix something for the immediate need.
Invited representatives of Chinese enterprises in Nigeria who participated in the forum made efforts to give account of their stewardship in different fields of infrastructural and trade cooperation and pledged their commitment towards the desired economic growth and healthier ties.
Engr. Misty Uba, Project Director, GSR, 360 Limited, X–rayed China’s Reach in Nigeria’s Digital Economy in the last 10 Years. He stated that China has made significant impact in Nigeria’s digital space and infractructural development with over 25 Chinese enterprise actively engaged in construction and digital/fintech projects. He however said that the Nigerian government must make effort to tackle some challenges like cybercrime, funding, attitudinal change, and leverage on the digital technologies so as to drive sustainable economic growth.
The highpoint of the gathering was the question and answer session. The discussants did justice in their different presentations while engaging the audience towards a robust conversation. The need to properly and adequately implement the “Build and Transfer Technology Strategy” by the Chinese business community in order to achieve the desired bilateral economic cooperation and infrastructural development between China and Nigeria became the focal point and consensus at the end of the program.
