A Shared Future, A Better World- Goodwill Message on the Lagos Forum 2024
Yan Yuqing
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos
21st, March, 2024 ｜ Victoria Island, Lagos,
PROTOCAL.
Distinguished guests.
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good day, everyone!
I am pleased to attend the first Lagos Forum and I thank all the partners who have contributed to its successful organization. This is a good start and I believe it will become an important platform for in-depth exchanges between China and Nigeria.
The theme of Lagos Forum 2024 is The Chinese in the Nigerian Economy - Deepening Development Cooperation: Towards A Shared Future, A Better World.
We live in a world full of uncertainties, and mankind is in an era of major development as well as profound transformation and change. People are asking the question of the times: What has happened to the world and how should we respond?
At the end of 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important address at the the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs, in which he identified the theme of China’s external work as building a community with a shared future for mankind. It was pointed out at the conference that given the series of major issues and challenges facing the world today, China calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
The key words for an equal and orderly multipolar world are “equal” and “orderly”. China advocates that the multipolarity of the world should be equal, through which all countries, regardless of size, are treated as equals, and hegemonism and power politics are rejected, and democracy is truly promoted in international relations. China advocates that the multipolarity of the world should be orderly. The progress toward greater multipolarity should be stable and constructive, and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter must be observed by all, and the universally recognized, basic norms governing international relations must be upheld by all, and true multilateralism must be practiced, to ensure its process becomes a historic one of unity rather than division, of dialogue rather than confrontation and of cooperation rather than conflict among countries.
Not long ago, during his meeting with the President of Angola, President Xi Jinping noted that at present, the collective rise of developing countries is unstoppable, and the Global South must not be absent from global governance, or development and prosperity. China is a reliable friend and sincere partner for African countries in their efforts to safeguard independence, and promote development and revitalization. President Xi said that China supports African countries and the African Union in solving African issues in the African way, and safeguarding regional peace and stability. 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 the engagement between the two countries is a vivid example of the promotion of equal and orderly multipolarity of the world.
In October 2023, President Xi Jinping met with Vice President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima who was in China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF). President Xi stressed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria more than half a century ago, the two countries have always adhered to the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit. China supports Nigeria in pursuing a path to modernization suited to its national conditions, and in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and would like to strengthen strategic coordination with Nigeria to promote democracy in international relations and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Vice President Shettima noted that Nigeria and China are good friends who have shared weal and woe and supported each other in times of difficulties. China has always treated Nigeria and other African countries with respect and as equals; it has never bossed them around, and has done its best to support the African people in seeking independence and development.
The key words for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization are “universally beneficial” and “inclusive”. China calls for a universally beneficial economic globalization, one that meets the common needs of all countries, especially the developing countries, and properly addresses the development imbalances between and within countries resulting from the global allocation of resources. China calls for an inclusive economic globalization, which supports countries to follow the path of development in accordance with their national conditions, while joining hands to create common development for all humankind. It is important to resolutely oppose the attempt to roll back globalization and abuse the concept of security, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, firmly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, overcome the structural problems hindering the healthy development of the world economy, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.
Nigeria is a pilot country for China-Africa cooperation in building the BRI. In recent years, the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has been deepening, and China and Nigeria have built nice cooperation mechanism, broad cooperation platform. in 2023, China-Nigeria bilateral trade reached 22.56 billion USD. In recent years, the opening and commissioning ceremonies of Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Lagos Blue Line and Red Line Light Railway constructed by Chinese enterprises have been held successively, which have not only promoted local economic and social development, but also made outstanding contributions to the deepening of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Chinese hi-tech enterprises have actively carried out cooperation in communication technology with Nigeria, promoting the development of digital economy and mobile payment in Nigeria, while Chinese new energy and new material enterprises have helped upgrade the Nigeria’s industries. The scale of Lekki FTZ, Ogun Guangdong FTZ and all kinds of industrial parks is expanding day by day. It can be said that the deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Nigeria is an important force in promoting inclusive economic globalization.
Today, we have invited representatives of Chinese enterprises in Nigeria to participate in this forum, who have made achievements in the fields of infrastructure, FTZ, hi-tech and green development, which have not only promoted the socio-economic development of Nigeria, but also contributed to the people-to-people exchanges between China and Nigeria, and to the promotion of the building of a closer community of shared destiny between China and Nigeria. I believe that China-Nigeria economic and trade cooperation will be steady and far-reaching, and will achieve even greater splendor.
At the forum, we will officially launch Mr. Emewu’s new book “The Chinese in the Nigerian Economy”. The book is a research report written by Mr. Emewu after visiting more than ten Chinese enterprises in nearly two years. With keen observation and professionalism, he objectively introduces and evaluates the contribution made by Chinese enterprises to Nigeria’s economic development. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Emewu for his efforts and support more scholars to draw the pictures of China-Nigeria friendship and cooperation with colorful brushes like him.
To build a closer China-Nigeria community with a shared future, we need more think tank scholars who understand China, Nigeria, Africa and even the world as a whole. As one of the outcomes of the first Lagos Forum, and in support of the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Nigerian think tanks, I am pleased to announce here, that our Consulate General will donate and establish the “Window to China” library at the NIIA, and to consolidate and sustain it, I hope to get the strong support from ZNU and Chinese enterprises.
Friends!
Ancient Chinese philosophers said, “The road is hard and long, but only if we try to move forward will we reach our destination”. A better world will not be easily realized overnight, but I feel full of hope because China’s future is bright and because Nigeria is striving to find the right path forward. I hope that the Lagos Forum will be a new source of strength for deepening China-Nigeria relations. I believe that by taking the first step today, we are one step closer to a better world.
I wish the first Lagos Forum every success! Thank you all!