Connect with us

Business

Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Angola displace Nigeria in China-Africa trade

Published

on

Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Angola displace Nigeria in China-Africa trade

Ethiopia and Angola are among African countries that have revved up their trade partnership with China, thereby displacing Nigeria to fourth position in its partnership with China.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian who made the disclosure, however noted that the relationship between the African country and Asian giants had a lot of potential, which could be tapped to the advantage of all.

Speaking during the visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-China Relations to the CGCOC Group headquarters at the weekend in Abuja, the envoy stated that his country’s desire was for Nigeria to attract massive Foreign Direct Investment, which he said was needed for the country’s development.

It was learnt that as at January 2017, South Africa was leading the pack of the first 10 countries with high partnership with China, followed by Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Angola while Nigeria, which displaced South Africa in 2015 fell to the fourth position.

Read also: US gives Nigeria conditions to support its power sector with $1bn

But Nigeria was said to have emerged the leading country after President Muhammdu Buhari visited China, and followed it with plans to domicile Chinese currency, Yuan, as a major foreign exchange in Nigeria.

However, Zimbabwe and Angola’s adoption of the Yuan as medium of foreign exchange, in October and November 2016, respectively, immediately saw the countries being given prominent positions in China’s economy.

But the envoy disclosed that China had so far attracted over $139tn FDI, noting that in 2016 alone, his country attracted about $139 billion.

“As Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, I wish a small part of the $139bn could come to Nigeria,” he said, stating that China’s policy was focused on the economic development of Africa.

“What is important is for us to focus on the big plans; we see great potential in investments in Nigeria, but Nigeria-China trade is declining fast.

“Nigeria used to be China’s number two trade partner in Africa, but it’s now number four.”

He also said that China was still devoted to implementing the outcomes of the China-Africa Cooperation Summit held when Buhari visited the Asian country.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-China Relations, Buba Yakubu, said the country would henceforth work on implementing all agreements reached with China.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now

Click to comment

0 Comments

  1. JOHNSON PETER

    February 19, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    China has made good money from Nigeria. They have waded through all sectors of our economy and has championed them. Just that their products remain the cheapest so cutting away totally from them would be easy.

    • seyi jelili

      February 19, 2017 at 5:03 pm

      All we need do has been said. We are to implement all agreement reached with China to strengthen our partnership.

  2. Balarabe musa

    February 19, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    It is not about the decline in partnership but what still exist in partnership . So even if Nigeria tilts down to number 10, it means absolutely nothing.

  3. Roland Uchendu Pele

    February 19, 2017 at 5:35 pm

    China too is now forming world power in business partnership. Well, Nigeria will get there some day. I learnt the Chinese were once very corrupt and poor. We hope it will be said about us someday.

    • Animashaun Ayodeji

      February 19, 2017 at 6:17 pm

      We can’t disput the fact that China’s economy is one of the best in the world, they are not just world power, but also super power. If Nigerian leaders are determined to put the country before their pockets, Nigeria will be greater than China, we have all necessary resources needed to flourish.

  4. Margret Dickson

    February 19, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    Well, Nigeria is very slow when it comes to implementing foreign policies. The state of our economy is also not encouraging good investments, Nigeria needs China and I hope the federal government will look into this as soon as possible.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

5 + eighteen =