Nigeria and China achieved significant milestones in 2025 across political, economic, and cultural spheres, setting a strong foundation for expanded cooperation in 2026. During an interview in Lagos, the Chinese Consul General, Ms. Yan Yuqing, described the relationship as a solid bridge for shared development, using the acronym BRIDGE to represent Bilateral ties, Rapport, Investment and Development, and Growth and Exchange. Economic data from the year highlights this success, with bilateral trade volume reaching 22.3 billion dollars between January and October, marking a 30.2 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The political foundation was strengthened early in the year when China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, visited Nigeria on January 9 as part of a long-standing tradition of prioritizing Africa for the first overseas trip of the year. During that visit, he met with President Bola Tinubu and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar to align the Belt and Road Initiative with Nigeria’s national goals and implement outcomes from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. These high-level engagements continued throughout the year with additional meetings in Brazil and China’s Hunan Province, where both nations reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism.
Beyond federal diplomacy, 2025 saw a rise in sub-national partnerships. Specific collaborations matured between Edo State and Fuzhou City, as well as Ondo State and Linyi City, focusing on trade and education. The Consul General also conducted personal visits to Kogi, Taraba, Abia, Rivers, Ogun, and Edo states to explore further investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and healthcare. These diverse engagements across multiple sectors have positioned both countries for what the envoy describes as greater opportunities in the coming year.
