China, Nigeria mark 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties

ABUJA (Xinhua) -- 

 China and Nigeria celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Thursday evening in Nigeria's capital city Abuja.

More than 600 Chinese and Nigerian guests, including Nigeria's former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, attended the gala event.

On Feb. 10, 1971, the two most populous developing countries in Asia and Africa set up their diplomatic relations, said Deng Boqing, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria.

The frequent high level visits from both sides built up the mutual trust, the exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, science, education and health, he said.

The bilateral trade volume in 2010 is expected to break the record 7.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2008. The total Chinese investment in Nigeria has been nearly 8 billion dollars by the end of 2010, he said.

Deng also gave tribute to the indispensable efforts made by the overseas Chinese and Chinese companies in Nigeria.

Yakubu Gowon, former head of state in the 1970s, told Xinhua that he was delighted to witness the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria in 1971 during his term. He visited China and met the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong in 1974.

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan sent his representative to the celebration of the 40th anniversary of bilateral ties, pledging the two countries would work closely in the future.