Vice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed satisfaction with the continuous increase in the volume of trade between Nigeria and China.

Mr Shettima said this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Shettima stated this when he received a delegation from China at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The delegation was led by the vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Zhang Qingwei.

According to Mr Shettima, trade between Nigeria and China is one of the highest in Africa.

“In 2023, our trade relations with China got to $22.6 billion, one of the highest in Africa, if not the highest, and that trade relationship is growing by 33 per cent every year,” said the vice-president.

Mr Shettima stressed the need to strengthen relations between the two countries, which have spanned over 50 years, for the benefit of both nations.

The vice-president expressed his admiration for China’s culture and traditions and said the country was already making its mark among the committee of nations.

Mr Shettima also called for greater engagements between the two friendly countries.

Mr Shettima, who assured the delegation that Nigeria supports the One China policy, expressed optimism that Nigeria would surmount its security challenges.

The vice-president, therefore, appealed for support from China in that regard.

Mr Zhang said the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China opened a new page of the relationship between the two countries. Mr Zhang said China was ready to move the relationship to a new high.

He also pointed to the need for Nigeria and China to support each other politically, adding that Tinubu was committed to economic diversification, and China was ready to support Nigeria’s developmental expedition.

(NAN)