By Abdullahi Lukman
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, met with Governor Mao Weiming of China’s Hunan Province on Tuesday to deepen cooperation aimed at enhancing food security and agricultural development.
During the high-level meeting in Changsha, Tuggar highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to agriculture and food security as fundamental pillars of Nigeria’s national stability and economic growth.
The discussions identified key areas for collaboration, including seed technology advancement, agricultural processing, and increased provision of modern agricultural machinery.
“We are focused on strengthening our agricultural sector to ensure food sustainability and economic empowerment,” Tuggar said, emphasizing Nigeria’s readiness to boost cooperation with Hunan in agriculture, infrastructure, technology transfer, and special economic zones.
Governor Mao Weiming acknowledged the long-standing friendship between Nigeria and Hunan despite the geographic distance.
He noted that trade between the two had increased significantly this year, with Nigerian exports to Hunan rising by 92% from January to April.
Mao expressed optimism about expanding cooperation in agriculture and infrastructure to support sustainable food production and economic prosperity.
Both parties explored opportunities for Chinese investment in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and industrial sectors, aiming to position Nigeria as a strategic gateway to the broader African market.
The partnership will also focus on cultural exchange, skills development, and addressing climate-related challenges in agriculture.
The meeting reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to implementing the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, advancing a shared vision of sustainable growth and food
