China to expand economic cooperation with Nigeria: ambassador

LAGOS - The Chinese government will expand economic cooperation with Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie said on Friday.

His statement comes after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the capital, Abuja.

Gu told reporters after the meeting that they had "wonderful and fruitful" talks and exchanged views on bilateral relations.

"I conveyed the message of the government and people of China to work closely with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and we also discussed the specific areas of cooperation between the two countries like infrastructure construction, agriculture and some of the specific issues of cooperation between China and Nigeria," Gu said.

He said the vice president gave him assurance that Nigeria's new administration would go on with the good ties between Nigeria and China, and they reached agreements on further development of the relations.

We agreed that the two nations can work together to make an impact in the region and in the developing world, he said.

Gu said they also exchanged views on peace and stability of Nigeria, which has been hit by militant group Boko Haram, and noted that the Chinese government "had been on the side of Nigeria".

"We support the Nigerian government and people to maintain peace and stability in the country so that the social and economic development will be ensured," he said.

The ambassador offered his government's sympathy and condolences to those who suffered weeks of attacks by militants in some parts of Nigeria.