The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, says Nigeria’s cooperation with China will deepen when the opposition party regains power in 2023.

“When we return to power in 2023, we will deepen and broaden the cooperation between our country and yours,” Mr Ayu said in a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

He spoke when a two-man delegation from the Chinese Embassy, Wu Baocai, and Li Ineijian, paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the PDP National Secretariat, in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Ayu said that was determined to also eradicate poverty in the country and generally improve the quality of life of the average Nigerian.

“The Chinese are industrial leaders and we want our people to tap into that industrial energy. We want a partnership that benefits our people too. We do not want a one-sided relationship,” he said.

The PDP chairman noted that Nigeria was impressed with the great industrial leap in China, especially in the last 30 to 40 years.

He noted that it was largely due to the vision of the ruling Communist Party of China, the will of the government, and the discipline of the people.

“There is much that Nigeria can learn from China, especially its model of industrialisation.

“This is a country that has suffered colonial abuse. It also has a large population and a chequered history like Nigeria.

“But it has risen from 100 years of humiliation to become an industrial giant and arguably the biggest economy in the world,” he added.

(NAN)