CHINA: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds talks with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in Beijing to strengthen cooperation between the two countries

Record ID: 236147

  • Title: CHINA: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds talks with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in Beijing to strengthen cooperation between the two countries
  • Date: 11th July 2013
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 11, 2013) (AGENCY POOL) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WALKING IN AND SHAKING HANDS WITH CHINESE PREMIER LI KEQIANG LI AND JONATHAN SHAKING HANDS LI SHAKING HANDS WITH NIGERIAN DELEGATE CHINESE AND NIGERIAN NATIONAL FLAGS MEETING IN PROGRESS LI SPEAKING JONATHAN SPEAKING/NIGERIAN DELEGATES SEATED MEETING IN PROGRESS JONATHAN SPEAKING LI AND CHINESE DELEGATES SEATED BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) CHINA-NIGERIA BUSINESS FORUM NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WALKING IN AND TAKING SEAT ON STAGE BUSINESS FORUM IN PROGRESS CAMERAMEN FILMING JONATHAN STANDING UP AND WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM TO DELIVER SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN SAYING: "Nigeria is currently the preferred investment destination for Chinese firms in Africa. The Heritage Foundation reports that Nigeria has over $15 billion of net investments from China. This, maybe, Aganga (Olusegun Aganga, Nigerian Minister for Industry Trade and Investment) may confirm this. These and many more Chinese firms are involved in various transformational projects in Nigeria." AUDIENCE JONATHAN SEATED BUSINESS FORUM IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Business,General,Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD09Z1G9E0ONLOY83K0O4EGVTB
  • Story Text: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in Beijing on Thursday (July 11).
    The talks, aimed at boosting bilateral ties, were carried out with both Nigerian and Chinese delegations in the Great Hall of the People.
    Nigeria's finance minister said last week that during his visit, President Jonathan would sign off on $3 billion USD in Chinese loans to build infrastructure in Africa's most populous country.
    The agreed loans would come from the Chinese government and would be based on interest rates of less than three percent over a 15-20 year period, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.
    Okonjo-Iweala said the delegation travelling to China would also be discussing China's interest in oil from Nigeria, an OPEC member and Africa's top producer.
    The deal underscores increasing Chinese interest in Africa and its resources, in competition with Western powers.
    Speaking to a China-Nigeria business forum, Jonathan said Nigeria has been the favoured investment destination for many Chinese companies.
    "Nigeria is currently the preferred investment destination for Chinese firms in Africa. The Heritage Foundation reports that Nigeria has over $15 billion (USD) of net investments from China. This, maybe, Aganga (Olusegun Aganga, Nigerian Minister for Industry Trade and Investment) may confirm this. These and many more Chinese firms are involved in various transformational projects in Nigeria," he said.
    China has made a string of cheap loans in the past few years to countries in Africa, a continent which supplies oil and raw materials like copper and uranium to the world's most populous country and second-largest economy.
    Jonathan is expected to leave China on Friday (July 12).
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