Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is set to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative Forum in Beijing, China, from October 16 to 18.
The announcement came from Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, in a statement on Sunday.
Shettima’s presence at the forum will unite world leaders from over 130 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America to discuss the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.”
Nkwocha emphasized the significance of this opportunity, stating, “Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations.”
Shettima will engage in bilateral meetings with other world leaders to boost Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in alignment with Tinubu’s economic development agenda.
The Belt and Road Initiative, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, was initiated by China’s President Xi Jinping as a global infrastructure development strategy.
Launched in 2013 by the government of the People’s Republic of China, it aims to enhance infrastructure investments across Asia, Africa, and Europe through land and maritime routes.
Accompanying Vice President Shettima to the forum are key ministers and officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, Minister of Works, David Umahi, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.
