By our Correspondent
A Chinese diplomatic official in Lagos has urged Nigerian journalists to distinguish between reporting on Taiwan and descriptions that portray the island as a sovereign country separate from China, emphasising the importance of the One-China Principle in Nigeria-China diplomatic relations.
Speaking during a meeting with media executives in Lagos, Mr. Xu Fan, Director of Bilateral Relations and Commerce at the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos, said China’s position on Taiwan was rooted in historical records, international agreements and the diplomatic framework established after the Second World War.
He cited United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971 and Nigeria’s diplomatic recognition of the People’s Republic of China, while maintaining that the One-China Principle remained the political foundation of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Envoy recalled that Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China principle during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024.
China Nigeria relations had during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting in Beijing elevated from the Strategic Partnership to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the meeting between the Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Xu further clarified that China did not object to Nigerian media reporting on Taiwan in Nigeria but was concerned about terminology that could be interpreted as recognising the island as a ‘sovereign state’.
He offered to strengthen cooperation with Nigerian media through professional exchanges, training programmes, seminars, media delegations and other institutional initiatives.
The diplomat maintained that Chinese authorities would continue to facilitate opportunities for Nigerian journalists to visit China, experience its development and gain a deeper understanding of its society, history, culture, economy and political system.
He described Nigerian media organisations as “partners and friends, not enemies.”
The discussion, which also examined Nigeria-China relations, trade, investment and media cooperation, underscored the importance of dialogue between Chinese diplomatic institutions and Nigerian media organisations.
Participants agreed that sustained dialogue, accurate reporting and stronger people-to-people engagement were essential to building mutual trust and ensuring that the bilateral relationship delivered greater benefits to both countries.
The session was convened by Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, representative of Buffalo and Bay Media, and featured Ambassador Anderson Madubike, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Australia, former Consul General in Shanghai, China, and former Chargé d’Affaires to South Africa. (GSF)
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