President Buhari will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples’ Congress, Zhang Dejiang. These talks will also focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in line with the FG’s agenda for the rapid diversification of the Nigerian economy, with emphasis on agriculture and solid minerals development.

During the course of the visit it is expected that several new agreements which include a Framework Agreement between the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Memorandums of Understanding to boost, trade and economic relations between Nigeria and China will be concluded and signed, and the National Development and Reform Commission of the Peoples’ Republic of China to boost industrial activities and infrastructural development in Nigeria. Others are a Framework Agreement between the Federal Ministry of Communications and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and China on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

In line with his administration’s prioritisation of economic diversification and industrialisation to boost employment, President Buhari and his delegation will tour the Shanghai Free Trade Zone and the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone to gain more useful insights and understanding of the policies that underpinned China’s astronomical economic growth in recent years.

Members of President Buhari’s entourage include Governors Ajibola Ajimobi of Oyo state and Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state. Others are the Ministers of Agriculture, Water Resources, Transport, Defence, Power, Works and Housing, Industry, Trade and Investment, F.C.T, Science and Technology and Foreign Affairs. The visit will also open a China-Nigeria Business/Investment Forum in Beijing and meet with members of the Nigerian Community in China.

President Buhari will return to Abuja from China at the weekend.