The Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the One-China Principle, describing the nation’s position on Taiwan as a settled and non-negotiable matter of national policy.
The reaffirmation comes amid renewed global focus on China’s long-standing insistence on the One-China Principle following the recent visit of a United States delegation led by Donald Trump to Beijing alongside top American business executives. The visit once again highlighted the strategic importance of the Taiwan issue in China’s foreign relations and Beijing’s position that the People’s Republic of China remains the only legitimate government representing all of China, with Taiwan regarded as an inseparable part of its territory.
Nigeria’s adherence to the One-China Principle dates back more than five decades to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1971. The policy was further reinforced during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in 2024, where both nations issued a joint statement reaffirming Nigeria’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing China and expressing support for China’s pursuit of national reunification.
According to the NCSP, Nigeria intends to build on its longstanding diplomatic consistency to strengthen economic cooperation with China, particularly in the areas of manufacturing, industrialisation, technology transfer and export-driven production, in line with Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest economy.
Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, stated that China has already played a significant role in the development of Nigeria’s railway systems, port infrastructure, energy projects, telecommunications networks and industrial capacity.
He noted that the partnership is expected to expand further into Nigeria’s digital economy, solid minerals sector, agro-processing industry and consumer market in order to create a more productive and balanced economic relationship between both countries.
The NCSP also reaffirmed its commitment to deepening bilateral collaboration with China across trade, investment, infrastructure development, technology transfer and capacity building, with emphasis on delivering measurable economic benefits to Nigeria.
The statement was accompanied by a photograph featuring Director-General of the NCSP, Joseph Tegbe, alongside Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai.