Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to China, Amb. Abdulrahman Dambazau, has called for stronger cooperation between both countries in agriculture, technology transfer, trade, and industrial development to boost economic growth.

He made the call during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Muhammad Ali, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

He described China as a strategic partner to Nigeria and stressed the need to deepen bilateral relations established in 1971.

“With what is happening globally today, China is even more important to Nigeria, and I take this assignment personally and passionately to ensure that Nigeria gets the best from the relationship,” he said.

Dambazau identified agriculture, healthcare, environmental sustainability, commerce, and technology transfer as critical areas for stronger collaboration.

He said Nigeria was particularly interested in technology transfer that could strengthen its industrial base and create jobs for its growing youth population.

He added that “in Nigeria, about 70 percent of the population is young, and many of them need to be productively engaged.”

According to him, Nigeria’s engagement with China should go beyond procuring goods and services to include development opportunities for Nigerians.

Dambazau also stressed the need for institutional support to advance diplomatic relations, saying that government agencies, private organisations, and the media all have important roles to play.

He particularly sought a partnership with NAN to deepen relations with China.

“That is why I considered it necessary to visit strategic institutions such as NAN,” he said.

Responding, Ali congratulated Dambazau on his appointment, describing him as a fitting choice at a critical period of Nigeria-China relations.

He added that NAN remained committed to supporting efforts to strengthen ties between both countries through credible and balanced reporting.

Ali said “most media organisations in Nigeria rely on NAN for news content.

“Given our robust trade relations with China, we are ready to partner the ambassador in projecting the gains of the relationship.”

He said NAN is working closely with global media organisations such as Xinhua News Agency, Agence France-Presse, the Egyptian News Agency, and the Moroccan News Agency to promote balanced reporting on Africa.

The managing director told Danbazau that the agency is considering opening a bureau in Beijing to strengthen direct coverage of Nigeria-China relations and to tell the Nigerian story and project its perspective globally.