Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday departed Nigeria to
represent President Bola Tinubu at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum
in Beijing, China, holding from Oct. 16 to 18.
Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed
this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
Nkwocha said that Shettima would join world leaders from
over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to deliberate on
the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common
Development and Prosperity.”
According to him, the vice president is expected to avail
Nigeria of the platform provided by the forum to woo investors for more
developmental projects.
Nkwocha added that the Vice President would hold bilateral
meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment
relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.
” The 2023 edition of the BRI will mark the 10th anniversary
of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by the President of China, Xi
Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy.
” Adopted and launched by the government of the Peoples
Republic of China in 2013.
” The initiative seeks international action to enhance
cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across
Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes. ”
He recalled that in 2018, former President, Muhammadu
Buhari, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement
with China.
“Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to
benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as
ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired
power stations.”
Nkwocha said that the delegation of the vice president to
the forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister
of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu and the Minister of
Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali.
Others are the Minister Of Works, David Umahi, Minister of
Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Managing Director of
the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and the Director-General,
Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.
In a related development, Nkwocha said in pursuance of the
food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, the vice
president will, from China, depart for the United States of America, USA.
” While in US as the special guest, Shettima will deliver a
keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize –
facilitated Norman E.Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence on
October 24th, 2023.
” Also, he will join other African international leaders,
Heads of State and Government who in the past have delivered keynote addresses
at the Borlaug Dialogue.
” They include former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi
Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor, AfDB
President, Akinwunmi Adeshina and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and
others.”
The media aide also stated that Shettima was expected to
highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian Agrifood sector by the
Tinubu administration.
” The vice president will engage several stakeholders,
partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria.
” Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the
vice president who is expected to be back to the country after his commitments
in the US.”
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