Nigeria and China Celebrate 55th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that over the past fifty-five years, the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China have been characterized by mutual respect, solidarity, and a shared commitment to common development. From the foundational ties established in 1971, our partnership has matured into a comprehensive strategic partnership, encompassing robust political dialogue, deepening economic cooperation, and vibrant cultural exchanges.
A statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, on
Tuesday 10, February, 2026 noted that Nigeria values the substantial cooperation with China across critical sectors such as infrastructural development, energy, telecommunications, agriculture, and human capacity building. Projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan Railway, the Abuja-Kaduna Railway, and numerous road networks stand as testaments to this fruitful collaboration, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s socio-economic development and the improvement of our citizens’ livelihoods.
Kimiebi further stated that, “Our bilateral engagement is further strengthened by strong people-to-people ties, growing trade volumes, and close coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest, particularly within the frameworks of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the United Nations.
“Therefore, on this auspicious occasion, the Government of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering commitment to deepening and expanding this vital partnership and we look forward to exploring new frontiers of cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, green energy, manufacturing, and security, in alignment with our national development priorities.”
To commemorate this landmark diplomatic accomplishment, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has exchanged congratulatory messages with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
In his message, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 55 years ago, regardless of changes in the international situation, China and Nigeria have consistently supported each other and advanced hand in hand, with friendship transcending mountains and oceans and deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. He particularly noted that since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024, the two sides have deepened political mutual trust, yielded fruitful results in cooperation across various fields, and closely coordinated on international and regional affairs.
Ambassador Tuggar, for his part, stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Nigeria and China have maintained a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship, with deepening cooperation in various fields. Nigeria regards China as an important strategic partner and is firmly advancing bilateral exchanges while exploring new areas of cooperation to better align with the foreign policy objectives of both countries and promote the development of Nigeria-China relations.
The Federal Government is confident that the coming years will witness a stronger Nigeria-China partnership that will continue to deliver mutual benefits and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in Africa and the world at large.
