The Bauchi State government in North East Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shandong Province of China to promote trade and investment, build industrial capacity, boost green energy to enhance low carbon as well as improve food security and fight poverty.
The Bauchi State governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, who signed the agreement on behalf of the state, promised to deepen cooperation with Shandong province in his address on Monday during the 2023 World Cities Forum and Regional Leaders Summit, which was held in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong province with the theme “ Green Development, Low Carbon Life”.
Governor Mohammed, who led a strong delegation of entrepreneurs, noted that China has demonstrated friendship and fraternity towards Africa and the rest of the world with massive investment in infrastructure, agriculture, ICT and cultural exchanges. He added that investment in green energy will help to reduce the impact of climate change and address the issue of poverty.
He said “ we are here to formalise our sister relationship with the Shandong province. At the beginning of such a relationship, I see the prospect of an enduring friendship and a mutually beneficial relationship for our sister states and people”.
The governor, who gave assurance of his government’s commitment and reciprocity said “ we are ready to do business because we believe in the sincerity of the Chinese.”
“Nigeria and China had shared a relationship of mutual respect with Nigeria being China’s third largest trading partner in Africa and China being Nigeria’s largest source of imports. The renewed commitment towards improving the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, has most recently been bolstered with major sectors witnessing development driven by strategy and investment” the governor added.