Nigeria on Monday expressed commitment to tightening its diplomatic relations with China.
Ambassador Baba Jidda made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Beijing.
He spoke at the 2022 International Food Fair ceremony organised by the Commonwealth Society of Beijing (CSB) held at the embassy.
Jidda recalled it had been 66 years since China- Africa officially opened diplomatic cooperation in 1956.
The envoy noted that the two countries had already signed numerous bilateral agreements.
Jidda described Nigeria as “a very close friend of China” with agreement on the One China policy.
Others include deals in the exchange of education, trade, commerce, and bilateral air services.
The ambassador said Air Peace now flies from Lagos to China due to government cooperation.
“Nigerian officials holding official passports do not require a visa to come to China; likewise we allow Chinese to go to Nigeria and obtain a visa on arrival.”
He disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the embassy to issue visas to Chinese heading to Nigeria for investment within 48 hours.
Jidda said despite the difficulty for students to visit China, measures had been taken by the Chinese Government to relax restrictions for Nigerians.
The diplomat hinted there were about 2,000 Nigerian students in China, unlike other countries whose students could not return due to issues caused by COVID-19.
