Nigeria Joins BRICS as Partner Country Amid Strengthening Ties with China
In a significant diplomatic development, Nigeria has formally accepted an invitation to join the BRICS bloc of developing economies as a partner country, marking a new chapter in the nation’s international relations.
This announcement comes amid strengthening bilateral ties between Nigeria and China, as evidenced by a recent high-level meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the meeting on 10 January 2025, Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed warm New Year greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Tinubu, while reflecting on the Nigerian leader’s productive state visit to China in September 2024.
That visit had resulted in the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation between the two nations.
The Chinese Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s consistent support of the One-China Principle and commended the West African nation’s pursuit of an independent development path.
China also acknowledged Nigeria’s significant contributions to combating terrorism and maintaining regional stability in Africa.
As Nigeria joins the BRICS partnership, the country is expected to leverage this platform to advance several key objectives:
- Enhancing trade and investment opportunities with other BRICS nations
- Strengthening energy security cooperation
- Accelerating infrastructure development initiatives
- Fostering technology transfer and innovation
- Addressing climate change challenges through collaborative efforts
In discussing bilateral relations, China emphasized its commitment to protecting Chinese enterprises and personnel operating in Nigeria, highlighting the growing economic ties between the two nations.
The Chinese government also expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s support of its three global initiatives and acknowledged Nigeria’s increasingly prominent role in international and regional affairs.
This partnership with BRICS represents a strategic move for Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, as it seeks to diversify its international partnerships and strengthen its position in the global economic order.
The development signals Nigeria’s growing alignment with emerging economies and its pursuit of multilateral cooperation to address shared challenges and opportunities in the developing world.
China welcomes and congratulates Nigeria on joining BRICS as a partner country, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday, 20 January 2025.
Mao made the remarks at a daily press briefing after Nigeria joined BRICS as the bloc’s ninth partner country.
