By Christel Odili
The Chief of the Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has reiterated the need to further strengthen military and security cooperation between Nigeria and China in line with the principle of mutual assistance.
Abubakar, who was represented by Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Abdulganiyu Olabisi, made this known during occasion marking the 91st anniversary celebration of the founding of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Abuja on Tuesday 31 July 2018, at the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.
According to the CAS, military cooperation between both countries is growing, and it is important for both countries to consolidate on this growth for enhance security and technical development. Air Marshal Abubakar opine that there was hope for Nigeria and other African countries, looking at the humble beginnings of the People’s Liberation Army.
“There are also examples of your collaboration with other countries across the world and on that note, I want to say that the military bilateral relations between China and Nigeria have been growing especially in the past decade.
“We do appreciate your invaluable contributions to our counterinsurgency operations. We are hopeful that this relationship will be strengthened for the mutual benefit of our countries.” he said.
Earlier, Col. Liu Yongxuan, Defence Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria remarked that, both countries shared similarities in contribution to global peace and security.
The Diplomat described the military exchange and cooperation between both countries as fruitful. “China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor of world development and an upholder of international order. Nigeria has dispatched military personnel to participate in UN peacekeeping operations since its independence and the total number is up to 100,000, one of the largest among African countries.
“This year, Chinese Naval warship for the first time participated in the joint maritime exercises hosted by Nigerian Navy and has given impetus to the call by the Nigerian Government for a combined maritime force in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Under the principle of Mutual Assistance, the military and security partnership and cooperation between our two countries will be further strengthened,” he said.
Col Liu also expressed confidence in increased cooperation between both countries in areas of common interest through the promotion of the “One Belt and One Road” initiative.
The initiative is known as a foreign policy and economic strategy of the Chinese Government to create a network of infrastructure to economically link China to Europe, other parts of Asia, Africa and Oceania.
It aims to develop the largest global platform for economic cooperation and more than 60 countries and international organisations have reportedly signed up for the infrastructure project.