Abuja, Nigeria – The People’s Republic of China has announced a military assistance grant of ¥1 billion to Africa, aimed at addressing the continent’s security challenges.
The commitment was made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
Wang emphasized the importance of global solidarity in tackling security issues, stating that China seeks to collaborate with Africa to achieve shared peace and modernization.
“It is only through global solidarity and response that security challenges can be brought to an end. China will work with Africa to deliver on the global security initiative and together build a China-Africa community with a shared future,” he said.
Key Commitments by China
China’s ¥1 billion grant includes the training of 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers across African countries. In addition, China pledged continued support for the African Standby Force and rapid response units, with a focus on counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations.
Wang reiterated his country’s dedication to multilateralism and pledged to safeguard Africa’s interests on the global stage. “At the United Nations Security Council, China’s vote will always go to Africa. We will continue to speak up for the legitimate voice of African countries in multilateral arenas,” he added.
As the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, China also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Africa in achieving security through development. Wang highlighted the ¥360 billion funding support announced during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit as part of the broader framework for collaboration.
Support for Nigeria and ECOWAS
Describing Nigeria as a pivotal player in Africa, particularly in its role as the chair of ECOWAS, Wang underscored China’s support for Nigeria’s efforts to stabilize West Africa and the Sahel region. “China supports Nigeria in rallying regional countries to achieve unity and cooperation to promote security and peace,” he said.
Nigeria’s Perspective
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, expressed gratitude for China’s support and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to fostering local military production.
“We are focused on domesticating the production of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to reduce reliance on external procurement and associated delays,” Tuggar stated.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, emphasizing its constitutional approach to addressing regional security challenges. He assured that Nigeria would continue collaborating with global powers, including China, to address interference from private military companies and external entities.
“Nigeria has consistently demonstrated effective leadership in addressing peace and security challenges in the region. We value the support of international partners like China in achieving these goals,” Tuggar added.
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