NIGERIAN/CHINA TO COMMENCE DIRECT FLIGHTS- ONYEAMA
Oru Leonard
The Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria, H. E. Geoffrey Onyeama has said that there is a plan to start a direct flight from Nigeria to China. The MFA discloseded this in joint press briefing after bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and members of a high-powered Chinese delegation on Tuesday 5th January, 2021 at MFA headquarters.
The press briefing witnessed the of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China for the purpose of setting up an inter-governmental committee charged to coordinate cooperation between the two countries.
Among the functions of the committee as stated on the MoU include; planning the priority areas, key projects and modes of bilateral cooperation in the light of such cooperation and coordinating bilateral cooperation in political, economy and trade, cultural and exchange of personnel , agriculture, security and other fields. 
Earlier the Ministers discussed a number of issues relating to
strengthening already existing cordial relations between Nigeria and China and shared information and knowledge pursuant to the interests of both countries in multilateral fora.
Speaking, Onyeama said that the inter-governmental committee will institute a mechanism that will coordinate defence, railway, and political sectors of Nigeria. He also said that the MoU signed will help analyse global affairs support in multinational organization.
H. E. Onyeama noted that Nigeria and China will be celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2021, adding that China has supported West Africa in trade relations , COVID -19 vaccine support and education.
The Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister, Wang Yi, who was on a two day visit to Nigeria said that the committee will foster cooperation between the two countries in areas such as health, road construction, industrialization and greater capacity for self-development.
He also added that the Chinese government will boost military and security cooperation as well as coordinate regional and international affairs of both countries.
Yi said that the joint affairs on strategic cooperation will add to Africa’s development for peace and sustainability of the world.
The Chinese government also donated 6 billion naira to Nigeria on Tuesday, January 5, during a meeting with Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Aviation, Sirika Hadi, Minister of Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, and the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and the Chief of Air Staff , Sadiq Abubakar. Others present at the meeting include Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo and Director of Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Yewande Sadiku, as well as a number of other senior government
officials.
TheMeeting focused on the following issues: political; trade and economic; defence and security cooperation; education; technical cooperation; and consular matters, and others.
Onyeamaof the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Wang Yi of the People’s Republic of China and fielded questions from journalists in the joint press conference and thereafter, Hon. Minister Onyeama escorted his Chinese counterpart to the State House, Aso Villa, to pay a courtesy visit to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari.
H. E. Wang Yi and his team departed Nigeria after a successful two-day official visit to Abuja, from Monday 4 January 2021.
