On Sunday, Vice President Kashim Shettima left Nigeria to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing, China, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. The forum is scheduled to take place from October 16 to 18. This information was disclosed by Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.
Nkwocha stated that Shettima would be joining leaders from more than 130 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America to discuss the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.” During the forum, the Vice President is expected to leverage the platform to attract investors for additional development projects in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the Vice President will hold bilateral meetings with leaders from other nations to advance Nigeria’s trade and investment relationships in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.
Nkwocha highlighted that the 2023 edition of the BRI Forum marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was initiated by China’s President, Xi Jinping, in 2013. This initiative seeks international collaboration to promote infrastructure investments across Asia, Africa, and Europe through land and maritime routes.
He also noted that in 2018, Nigeria, represented by former President Muhammadu Buhari, entered into a Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China. This partnership is expected to benefit Nigeria in various areas, including infrastructure investments like ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams, and coal-fired power stations.
The delegation accompanying the Vice President to the forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.
Additionally, as part of the Tinubu administration’s food security and diversification policy, Vice President Shettima will travel from China to the United States of America (USA). While in the US as a special guest, Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize-facilitated Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, set to commence on October 24th, 2023.
He will join other African international leaders and heads of state who have previously delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue. This includes former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, World Food Prize Laureates, Ghana President John Kufuor, AfDB President Akinwunmi Adeshina, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and others.
During this visit, Shettima will highlight the agricultural and food sector reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration in Nigeria. He will engage with various stakeholders, partners, and potential investors to explore opportunities for investments in Nigeria. Multiple meetings and engagements are scheduled for the Vice President, who is expected to return to Nigeria after fulfilling his commitments in the US.