Jonathan arrives China on 4-day visit
• Trade, finance, others on agenda
President Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Beijing, China, at about 17.30hours (local time) yesterday to begin a four-day state visit to China, during which several new agreements will be signed to boost bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The agreements will cover areas such as defence, finance, trade, agriculture and communications.
Jonathan, who was accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan was received at the Capital Airport in Beijing by China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Li Yucheng and Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Alhaji Aminu Wali.
The President will be formally welcomed to China tomorrow by President Xi Jinping at a grand ceremony scheduled to hold at the Great Hall of the People.
Thereafter, the two leaders and their official delegations will hold bilateral talks at the end of which new agreements and memoranda of understanding will be signed.
These include an agreement on defence cooperation between Nigeria and China, and an agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation.
Others are: an Agreement on Finance for the Zungeru Power Plant and Airport Terminals; and an Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.
At the conclusion of the signing ceremony, Jonathan and his wife will attend a state banquet to be given in their honour by Jinping and his spouse.
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