China Deepens Strategic Ties with Nigeria Through Invitation to CIIE 2025
In a
significant gesture underscoring the growing diplomatic and economic rapport
between China and Nigeria, the Chinese government has formally invited Nigeria
to participate as a guest of honour at the eighth edition of the China
International Import Expo (CIIE), held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10, 2025.
The invitation was extended by China’s ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, who emphasized the importance of the expo as a global platform for economic, technological, and industrial exchange. This move reflects China’s recognition of Nigeria’s expanding role in international trade and its strategic importance within China’s broader African engagement policy.
The 2025
CIIE has attracted 3,400 exhibitors from 129 countries and spans an impressive
420,000 square metres at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in
Shanghai.
Within
the first 24 hours of the event, trade deals worth $12.3 billion were signed,
highlighting the expo’s commercial significance. Nigeria’s presence is marked
by a prominent 500-square-metre national pavilion, adorned in the country’s
green and white colours.
The
pavilion showcases a diverse array of products from Nigeria’s agricultural and
manufacturing sectors, including innovative offerings such as bio-fortified
cassava, solar-powered irrigation pumps, and blockchain-tracked shea butter.
These
were unveiled by Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of the Nigerian Export
Promotion Council, who stressed the vast potential of China’s consumer market
for authentic African goods and the opportunity to connect Nigerian enterprise
with global demand.
This
invitation follows closely on the heels of Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to
Abuja, during which he pledged $2 billion in concessional loans aimed at
bolstering Nigeria’s infrastructure and energy sectors.
The
bilateral relationship was further strengthened during a working dinner in
Shanghai hosted by Ambassador Yu for Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu
Ribadu. The two officials signed a maritime cooperation protocol that includes
joint patrols in the Gulf of Guinea and intelligence sharing on piracy,
signaling a deepening of security collaboration.
Trade
between China and Nigeria continues to flourish, with bilateral turnover
reaching $22.6 billion in 2024. However, Nigeria’s non-oil exports to China
remain modest, totaling less than $700 million.
In
response, China has granted zero-tariff treatment to 98 percent of Nigerian
tariff lines under the CIIE framework, a policy expected to boost exports of
agricultural products such as sesame, ginger, and hibiscus tea. Chinese
e-commerce giant Tmall Global has already allocated online shelf space for
Nigerian goods, further facilitating market access.
Despite
Nigeria’s outstanding debt of over $4 billion to Chinese policy banks, the
Nigerian government maintains that the relationship is mutually beneficial.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration views China as a pivotal partner in its
industrialization and export diversification agenda.
The
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, led Nigeria’s
parliamentary delegation to the expo, reinforcing the country’s commitment to
leveraging international platforms like CIIE to advance its economic interests.
This
renewed engagement between China and Nigeria, symbolized by the guest of honour
status at CIIE 2025, marks a strategic milestone in their bilateral relations,
blending trade, diplomacy, and security cooperation into a robust partnership
poised for future growth.
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