Buhari expresses hope over China leader Xi’s re-election
President Muhammadu Buhari says he hopes the re-election of Chinese leader Xi Jinping would boost ongoing infrastructure intervention in the country.
China’s communist party had its central committee – its highest decision-making body –re-elect Xi as general secretary for another five-year term.
In his congratulatory message to Xi, Buhari, said he hopes his “re-election would pave the way for deeper and enduring partnership and strategic cooperation that will be mutually beneficial to our two countries.
“I believe that the development of infrastructure, such as railways, dams and roads construction, power generating plants, as well as trade exchanges will receive a strong boost,” President Buhari said.
TheCornet reports that Nigeria is one of China’s top trading partners. According to the World Bank, Nigeria-China trade in products increased from about USD 1.2 billion in 2003 to USD 13.7 billion in 2019.
Nigeria’s trade with the United States in the same period declined from USD 11.5 billion to USD 7.5 billion, according to Bank. Within the same period, Chinese investment in Nigeria also spiked increased from USD 24.4 million to 123.27 million.
China operates a Belt and Road foreign policy that sees it bankrolling various infrastructural projects in some African countries.
