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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has said that political mutual trust formed the important foundation for the healthy development of the China-ECOWAS relations.
He stated this in an op-ed titled, “Deepening Cooperation to Jointly Promote West Africa’s Development, Writing a New Chapter in China-ECOWAS Relations.”
He recalled that on April 28, the China-aid ECOWAS Headquarters Building was officially handed over, saying that the magnificent modern building, known as the “Eye of West Africa,” is the second international organisation office facility built by China in Africa after the African Union Conference Centre and Office Complex.
Healso said as Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and to ECOWAS, he had the honour and privilege of handing over the commemorative key of the building to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, personally witnessing the important moment that will be forever recorded in the history of friendly cooperation between China and ECOWAS.
He further said since the formal establishment of relations in the 1990s, China and ECOWAS have upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
“We have deepened political mutual trust, strengthened practical cooperation, expanded cooperation in peace and security and intensified people-to-people exchanges, actively building a strategic partnership that has become a model of South-South cooperation. Looking back over more than half a century of standing together through thick and thin, the profound friendship between China and ECOWAS remains as fresh as ever and continues to thrive with strong vitality.
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“Political mutual trust forms the important foundation for the healthy development of China-ECOWAS relations. China respects ECOWAS’s independently chosen path of development and supports ECOWAS in playing a leading role in West African affairs. In 2003, the Chinese government formally appointed a representative to ECOWAS, concurrently served by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, opening a new chapter in China-ECOWAS relations. High-level interactions between the two sides are frequent.
“We maintain close coordination within multilateral frameworks, such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the African Union, and hold similar positions on issues, including climate change, food security and global governance reform. China has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for ECOWAS in advancing the regional integration process, respects the right of regional countries to independently resolve their internal affairs and opposes external interference in West Africa’s internal affairs. ECOWAS and its member states firmly adhere to the one-China principle and have provided strong support to China on issues regarding its core interests and major concerns,” the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria said.
While further saying that practical cooperation served as the core driving force for upgrading the quality and efficiency of China-ECOWAS relations, Yu added that leveraging the FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral cooperation has extended from traditional infrastructure, such as roads and ports to new areas, including the digital economy, green energy and modern agriculture, with outcomes benefiting thousands of households across West Africa.
“China has announced that starting from tomorrow, it will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China, significantly lowering the threshold for West African products to enter the Chinese market. Chinese agricultural experts have taken root in West Africa, promoting high-yield crop cultivation techniques and water-saving irrigation models to help the region enhance its food self-sufficiency. Through technical training, capacity building and material assistance, China supports ECOWAS in improving its integrated governance capabilities in areas such as public administration, customs supervision and disaster response, injecting strong momentum into regional sustainable development,” he stated.
Noting that cooperation in peace and security is an important guarantee for the steady and long-term development of China-ECOWAS relations, he said ECOWAS played a key role in regional peacekeeping, stability maintenance and crisis mediation.
“China consistently upholds the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept and actively supports ECOWAS in enhancing its independent security capabilities. Since the 1990s, China has participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations in West African countries, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, making important contributions to the restoration of peace and stability in the region. China actively supports ECOWAS in building capacity for counter-terrorism, stability maintenance, border control and humanitarian assistance, helping the region address security risks at their root. China advocates that development is the fundamental solution to security issues. By promoting economic cooperation and improving people’s livelihoods and employment, China helps lay a solid social foundation for long-term peace and stability in West Africa, achieving a virtuous cycle between security and development,” he also said.
