China And Nigeria Sign $1.1bn Deal

Nigeria and China, on Wednesday, signed five agreements to boost financial, trade, economic, technical and cultural relations between the two countries.
Both President Goodluck Jonathan and President Xi Jinping of China presided over the signing of the agreements in Beijing in the course of the ongoing state visit by President Jonathan to the Asian country.
According to a Presidency statement issued in Abuja, on Wednesday, the agreements, which were signed after bilateral talks between the two leaders and their delegations included the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Financial Cooperation In Support of Nigeria’s Economic Development and a Preferential Buyer Credit Agreement for Nigeria’s Four Airports Expansion Project.
Others were a new Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between Nigeria and China, an agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports from both countries and an agreement for the Prevention of the Theft, Illicit Import and Export of Cultural Property.
Speaking before the commencement of the talks, Jonathan thanked President Jinping and the people of China for the warm reception accorded him and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, since their arrival in Beijing on Wednesday.
The statement said that Jonathan assured his host that the Federal Government was fully committed to sustaining and developing the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their people.