The Sino-Nigeria diplomatic relations
The present official connection established between China and Nigeria – through the signing of bilateral agreements presided over by Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Xi Jinping of China in Beijing on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 – is a very welcome development. Understandably, there is no doubt that the event marked and has ushered in a new beginning in the lives of the very many peoples of both countries. It is, of course, obvious that this close relationship between the governments of the two countries, which started since 1970 (with efforts made eight years ago in upgrading and building strategic relations), will rapidly boost mutual trade and economic activities with an improved, robust impact on both economies in the nearest future. A new agreement (as this) on economic and technical cooperation between Nigeria and China is most vital for the mutual growth of the two countries and their peoples, with special focus (if you asked me) on petrochemicals productions and development in the downstream oil and gas sector of Nigeria’s economy.
It is true that the Nigerian delegation under the leadership of President Jonathan sought cooperation in support of different aspects of Nigeria’s economic development, but the Chinese economy stands to gain much more. This is because they are well able and are favourably disposed (as Asia’s powerhouse economy) to going into such fresh bilateral agreements judging from the attractiveness of engaging in international trade with Nigeria’s large and very irresistible market. Nigeria is China’s third-largest trade partner in Africa as well as Africa’s largest oil producing country; an economy emerging as a preferred destination for foreign investments in the continent. This strategic partnership is a big plus for both countries, in terms of economic growth through increased trade and direct investment from China in areas like finance, road construction and infrastructural development, transportation, oil and gas, information technology, agriculture, among others.
The expansion of Nigeria’s domestic manufacturing capacity is one critical area that avails a whole lot of opportunities to the Chinese investors in view of the availability of the Free Trade Zones/Export Processing Zone facilities spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country. Nigeria’s large market terrain, of course, ought not to be a strange one to most Chinese conglomerates and the very many small businesses in China because quite a good number of them have been dealing with numerous Nigerian international merchants for up to two or three decades or more. The 2012 trade records (imports to Nigeria) between the two countries show a trade volume of $10.57 billion. The efforts of the Federal Government to promote, expand and diversify Nigeria’s export base by making the non-oil exports contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be facilitated under the current bilateral agreements of both countries for a mutually beneficial, sustainable economic development and balance of trade. This will be achieved through the utilisation of the nation’s FTZs/EPZ facilities located in different parts of the country. The foreign direct investments (FDIs) will create jobs in the host communities, increase productivity for the economy, and build human capacity (technologically) through on-the-job training within the local environment. On the other hand, it will tremendously grow the businesses of the foreign investors that could repatriate their profits to their home country at will, thereby contributing significantly to their home economy through such international business ventures. It is true that the Chinese government has recently indicated interest in Nigeria’s oil industry, and is expected to increase its demand from the current 20,000 barrels per day to 200,000 bpd by 2015, and one takes President Xi Jinping by his word during Jonathan’s visit – “both China and Nigeria are now working hard to accelerate our respective development”. But the effect of this “hard work” can only be made meaningful and manifest when investors from China invest substantially in the downstream oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy for a dynamic and multifaceted petrochemicals production, with products ranging from primary and intermediate raw materials as well as finished petrochemicals goods. This is a matter of urgency!
The Nigerian community in faraway China (Guanzhou) creates a practical impression for communication and cultural exchange. Most Nigerian immigrants there took Chinese young ladies in marriage, and they are blessed with beautiful children. The interesting aspect of the whole thing is that these very enterprising Chinese-Nigerian wives communicate very fluently in Nigerian languages (mostly Igbo) without having visited Nigeria for the first time. They have become so accustomed that they equally join their husbands to trade and scout for customers in Igbo language.
Down here in Nigeria, it is true that the Confucius Institute for Chinese language and culture is established for Chinese language studies at the University of Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. However, one thinks that the commercial city of Onitsha, as a business community that accounts for approximately 60 percent of the imports from China, merits being equipped with a Chinese language teacher/classroom under effective care and monitoring by its coordinator in Unizik Awka. The Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), an organised private sector non-governmental body that promotes and protects the interests of its members (including educational training/capacity building for entrepreneurs), has formally proposed this initiative to the language coordinator at the university but no positive response yet. The aim is to satisfy the yearnings of the international merchants in the business community to study/understand the basics of Chinese language that will enable them bridge the communication gap frequently created between them and their Chinese suppliers each time they take business trips to China. This is an initiative the Chinese government ought to facilitate and encourage towards a dynamic, 21st century international business growth and mutually beneficial economic development of both nations. The Chinese authority, take note and act.
Nwachukwu writes from Onitsha,
Anambra State.
schubltd@yahoo.com
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