/ 12 April 1999

OBASANJO CALLS FOR CHINESE AID

NIGERIA’S president-elect Olusegun Obasanjo called Monday for greater economic aid to his country, saying Chinese entrepreneurs and investors were welcome. The two countries should work together to draw up plans for bilateral economic and trade cooperation in the years to come, he said in a meeting with Chinese business representatives, including from the power, oil, natural gas and civil engineering industries. Nigeria is now China’s third largest trading partner in Africa, the official Xinhua news agency said. The two countries signed an accord in 1997 to promote mutual investment, but Obasanjo said their ties should be given fresh impetus. Trade volume last year topped 385 million dollars, 18 percent up on 1997, Xinhua added, quoting customs statistics.