China-Nigeria cooperation in science, technology mutually beneficial: minister

Wider cooperation in science and technology will be mutually beneficial for China and Nigeria as bilateral ties has reached a milestone, Nigerian minister of science and technology Ogbonnaya Onu told Xinhua Wednesday.

The senior Nigerian official, who is leading a delegation to China, will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart and the organized private sector.

"As a nation, we believe that there are so many lessons we can learn when we cooperate with a nation like China. My meeting with my counterpart in China will be around strengthening the relationship between our two countries, particularly in the areas of science and technology," he said in Abuja, ahead of his visit to the East Asian nation.

His visit will also serve as an avenue to convince more Chinese investors to do business in Nigeria and see that, as Africa's largest economy, there is tremendous potential to improve lives and the people's standard of living through the science and technology sector.

"We would like to explore new areas of cooperation that will help nurture better understanding between our two nations. We want to improve the standard of living of our people. We want to be in a position to use science and technology to secure our nation, grow our economy and create jobs," the minister said.

By next month, cooperation between China and Nigeria will clock 45 years. The Sino-Nigeria cooperation has increased tremendously over the past four and half decades, covering areas that include politics, trade, investment, aid, technology, science, culture, education, health and military.

The Nigerian minister said his mission in China is to encourage the Chinese authorities and investors to join faith with the new momentum of change and economic prosperity anchored by government of the West African country.

He said Nigeria is bound to enter agreement that will cover manpower development and technology transfer with China. Endit