By Bavoriat Clara
In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s defence capacity and expand indigenous military production, the Honourable Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON, mni, held a high-level bilateral meeting with Air Chief Marshal Xu Xueqiang, Minister, Department of Equipment and Development of the People’s Republic of China, on the sidelines of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
According to a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mati Ali, the discussions centred on Nigeria’s push for practical defence technology cooperation, with emphasis on sustainable technology transfer, institutional capacity building, and defence-industrial collaboration.
Specifically, the Minister pressed for:
Stronger industrial partnerships between Nigerian and Chinese defence manufacturers.
Technical and institutional capacity building to empower Nigeria’s defence sector.
Cooperative training, joint projects, and exchange programmes to enhance interoperability.
Feasible technology transfer programmes aligned with Nigerian laws and international standards.
The meeting reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to secure transparent, practical, and mutually beneficial agreements that would not only improve military capability but also stimulate broader economic and technological development. Both parties tasked their respective agencies to advance follow-up studies and proposals toward concrete programmes and possible formal agreements.
The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, a premier global platform for defence diplomacy, brings together military leaders, security experts, and policymakers from across the world to deliberate on international and regional security issues.
Nigeria’s participation and proactive bid for cooperation highlight its commitment to strategic global partnerships and capacity building through defence diplomacy.
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