Consul General’s speech
Thank you all for accepting the invitation to attend the Lagos Forum Think Tank & Media Dialogue and 2025 Two Sessions Briefing.
You are representatives of Nigerian media and academic elites, among which some have visited China many times and possess an in-depth understanding of our country. And some participated in last year’s media delegation to China organized by our Consulate General. We sincerely appreciate your truthful and objective reporting on China. To those who have not yet had the opportunity to visit China, we will provide platforms for you to document and narrate your firsthand experiences in China through your lenses and pens, enabling you to share these insights with Nigerian audiences.
The 2025 Two Sessions of China successfully concluded on March 11. The Two Sessions (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and National People’s Congress) represent a pivotal event in China’s political calendar. They serve as a key platform to demonstrate the superiority of China’s political system and the vitality of its democratic system. These sessions ensure democratic and scientific decision-making on major national issues, embodying the people’s principal role in governance.
What Two Sessions is about
As a “barometer” for China’s economic policies, the Two Sessions feature the Government Work Report delivered by Chinese Premier. This report reviews the achievements of the past year and outlines development goals and tasks for the coming year. It covers economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological domains, providing clear direction for the nation’s comprehensive development.
Today, we invite friends from the think tanks and media to gather here and share insights on the outcomes of the 2025 Two Sessions. We are delighted to explore the promising future of China-Nigeria cooperation. This dialogue serves as a vital platform to deepen mutual understanding and foster collaboration.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Professor Ubi and other distinguished experts for their insightful articles analyzing the policy directions and social-economic implications of this year’s Two Sessions. We also commend media professionals for their timely and comprehensive coverage.
A Review of Chinese Economic Development in 2024 shows that solid strides were made in advancing Chinese modernization in 2024.
At its third plenary session, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) set forth plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. We celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and accomplished the main goals and tasks for economic and social development in 2024. Solid headway was made in pursuing high-quality development and fostering new quality productive forces. China’s economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, and composite national strength continued to rise.
The economic development of China over the past year can be succinctly summarized with two defining terms: “steady growth” (稳) and “proactive advancement”
“Steady growth” was as demonstrated in the following areas:
Steady expansion of the economy: China’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5% year-on-year. China ranks among the world’s fastest-growing major economies, continuing to contribute about 30 percent to global economic growth.
Generally stable employment and prices: A total of 12.56 million urban jobs were created, and surveyed urban unemployment rates averaged 5.1 percent. The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.2 percent.
A basic equilibrium in the balance of payments: Foreign trade reached a record high, and the global market share of China’s exports increased steadily. Foreign exchange reserves surpassed 3.2 trillion US dollars.
Steady progress in ensuring the people’s wellbeing: Per capita disposable income grew by 5.1 percent in real terms. Achievements made in poverty alleviation were further consolidated and expanded, and greater support was provided for compulsory education, basic old-age insurance, basic medical insurance, and social assistance. Well-ordered and effective steps were taken to defuse risks in key areas, helping ensure overall social stability.
“Proactive advancement” was as shown in the following areas:
New advancements in industrial upgrading: Grain output hit a new high of 700 million metric tons. The value added of high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing rose by 8.9 percent and 7.7 percent respectively, and the output of new-energy vehicles passed the 13 million mark. The value added increased by 10.9 percent in the sectors of information transmission, software, and IT services and by 10.4 percent in leasing and business services.
Further enhancements in innovation capacity: New achievements were made in integrated circuits, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and other areas. The Chang’e-6 mission completed humanity’s first-ever sample collection from the far side of the moon.
New improvements in the environment: The proportion of days with good or excellent air quality rose to 87.2 percent. The proportion of surface water with a good quality rating reached 90.4 percent. Installed renewable energy capacity grew by 370 million kilowatts.
New breakthroughs in reform and opening up: All market access restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector were lifted, and trade and investment cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative was steadily expanded and upgraded The aforementioned developmental achievements stand as a robust testament to the new and solid strides made in Chinese modernization, further galvanizing our resolve and confidence to comprehensively build a modern socialist country in this new era and journey.
Advanced modernization
Economic Development Targets for 2025
China’s economic growth target of around 5% for this year has been set after thorough research and analysis Sustained Economic Recovery
China’s economy continues to strengthen. Following incremental policies introduced in last September, the economy rebounded significantly, achieving the annual target of around 5% in 2024.
In 2025, AI-driven tech innovations, booming cultural tourism (especially during the Spring Festival), rising asset prices, and improved corporate confidence reflect stable economic momentum. Indicators like the PMI, property sales, and port throughput further confirm this trend.
Accumulated Growth Advantages
Most domestic and international institutions recognize China’s untapped potential, with a projected long-term growth rate near 5%.
Emerging industries—new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, shipbuilding, and AI-related sectors—are now globally competitive, injecting new vitality into the economyReforms outlined at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee will further unleash growth drivers
3. Robust Policy Support
A combination of incremental and existing policies is driving growth. Notably, the 2025 proactive fiscal and monetary policies, unprecedented in recent years, will provide strong momentum.
In conclusion, setting this year’s growth target at around 5% aligns with China’s realities and the laws of economic development. We are fully confident in achieving this target
Boosting Consumption and Expanding Investment
Building on the expanded and intensified trade-in policy for consumer goods, this year’s efforts will focus on three key areas: increasing incomes and reducing burdens to boost purchasing power, enhancing quality supply to create effective demand, and improving consumption environments to strengthen consumer willingness. A special campaign to stimulate consumption will be launched, with relevant departments currently formulating implementation plans and supporting policies that will be implemented soon.
Alongside boosting consumption, targeted measures will be taken to expand effective investment and improve investment efficiency. For funding, efforts will focus on both diversifying funding sources and increasing scale. Government-led investments, such as ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, central government budget allocations, and local government special-purpose bonds, will see significant increases. In terms of investment direction, priority will be given to supporting service sector investments, leveraging government investments to stimulate private capital, and implementing policies to encourage private sector growth.
Accelerated Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
At the end of 2024, a small Chinese company named “DeepSeek” launched a new AI system whose capabilities rival those chatbots from companies like OpenAI and Google. Currently, DeepSeek has not only gained immense popularity across China but has also attracted widespread attention globally. The New York Times commented that this achievement by a Chinese enterprise is “a milestone”. The Financial Times reported that DeepSeek’s capabilities are no less than any existing products on the market, and it is cost-effective. Many international enterprises and research institutions have already begun adopting DeepSeek, promoting its application across various industries. It not only demonstrates China’s global competitiveness in AI technology, but also contributes Chinese wisdom to the enrichment and development of the global AI ecosystem.
AI is a global technological revolution, and it requires extensive international collaboration. China is an active advocate of global AI governance. As early as October 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the “Global AI Governance Initiative”. At the Paris AI Action Summit, which concluded on this February, China, along with 61 other countries and international organizations, signed the “Declaration on Developing Inclusive and Sustainable AI for the Benefit of Humanity and the Planet”, reflecting a shared pursuit of safe, sustainable, and equitable AI development.
The future of AI is filled with infinite possibilities and challenges. We oppose drawing lines based on ideology, the over generalization of national security concepts, and the politicization of economic, trade, and technological issues. We consistently maintains an open and cooperative attitude, willing to share its experiences and achievements in AI technology development with the world, including Nigeria, creating an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory environment for AI development, ensuring that the benefits of AI reach all nations and peoples.
China will host another Global Women’s Summit this year
On March 7, 2025, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, announced that China will host another Global Women’s Summit in Beijing later this year during a press conference at the Two Sessions.
In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing. On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, and as a follow-up to President Xi Jinping’s proposal, China will convene a Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in the latter half of this year.
Over the past three decades, China has acted on the spirit of the 1995 Conference and made historic achievements in women’s development in China. We have upheld gender equality as our basic state policy and carried out national action plans dedicated to the all-round development of women
Countless outstanding women have become role models of our times, making their important contributions to Chinese modernization.
Over the past three decades, China has led the advancement of the global cause of women’s development through concrete actions. We have supported the work of U.N. Women, partnered with UNESCO in setting up the Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, helped fellow developing countries in implementing 100 maternal and child health projects, and trained over 200,000 female professionals for more than 180 countries and regions.
Realizing gender equality requires practical actions.
The Chinese Consulate General will continue to work hand in hand with women compatriots in the Consular District to actively promote exchanges between the women’s communities of China and Nigeria. We look forward to seeing more women live life to the full and realize their dreams.
China and the U.S. must seek peaceful coexistence; China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable
On March 7, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, addressed the role of China’s diplomacy in contributing to the world during the press conference.
Wang Yi emphasized that we are living in a changing and turbulent world, where certainty is becoming a scarce resource. The choices made by countries, especially major countries, will determine the trajectory of our times and shape the future of the world. China’s diplomacy will stand firm on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. We will provide certainty to this uncertain world
We will be a staunch force defending our national interests. No maximum pressure, threat or blackmail can undermine the unity of the 1.4 billion Chinese people or stop our historic strides toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
We will be a just and righteous force for world peace and stability. We will continue to expand our global partnerships featuring equality, openness and cooperation, actively use the Chinese approach in resolving hot-spot issues, and write a new chapter of the Global South seeking strength through unity. We will prove with facts that the path of peaceful development is bright and can ensure stable and sustainable progress, and that it should be the choice of all countries.
We will be a progressive force for international fairness and justice. We will uphold true multilateralism, and bear in mind the future of humanity and the well-being of the people. We will promote global governance that is based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit. We will observe the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and build more consensus for an equal and orderly multipolar world.
We will be a constructive force for common development of the world. We will continue to expand high-standard opening up, and share the vast opportunities of Chinese modernization with all countries. We will safeguard the multilateral free trade system, foster an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for international cooperation, and advance a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
When discussing China-US relations, Wang Yi emphasized that mutual respect is a basic norm governing state-to-state relations. It is also an important prerequisite for China-U.S. relations. No country should fantasize that it can suppress China and maintain good relations with China at the same time. As the world’s largest developing and developed countries respectively, China and the United States must seek peaceful coexistence. As President Xi Jinping noted in his telephone call with President Donald J. Trump earlier this year, confrontation and conflict should not be an option. Given the extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation, it is possible for China and the United States to become partners helping each other succeed and prosper together.
China will stay committed to the three principles proposed by President Xi Jinping—mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation—in promoting steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. At the same time, we hope that the U.S. side will listen to the calls of the two peoples, see clearly the trend of the times, take an objective and rational view of China’s development, engage proactively with China in practical exchanges, and work together with China to pursue the right way of getting along with each other to the benefit of the two countries and the whole world.
Taiwan issue
Wang Yi also addressed the Taiwan issue, the core of China’s core interests. He stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. This is the history and the reality. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan. Eight decades ago, the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression put Taiwan back under China’s sovereign jurisdiction. Both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, issued by major victorious nations of WWII, stated in explicit terms that Taiwan is a territory that Japan had stolen from the Chinese, and shall be restored to China. Japan also accepted the terms of the Potsdam Proclamation and announced its unconditional surrender. All these have confirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan, and formed an important part of the post-WWII international order.
Resolution 2758 was later adopted in 1971 by the U.N. General Assembly with an overwhelming majority. It decides to restore all the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China at the U.N. and expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan authorities from the U.N. and all the organizations related to it. Once and for all, this resolution resolved the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the U.N., and precluded any possibility of creating “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.” The only reference to the Taiwan region in the U.N. is “Taiwan, Province of China.” Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future. To clamor for “Taiwan independence” is to split the country, to support “Taiwan independence” is to interfere in China’s internal affairs, and to connive at “Taiwan independence” is to undermine the stability of the Taiwan Strait.
The principle of sovereignty is the cornerstone of the U.N. Charter. No country or individual should adopt any kind of double standard. Respect for all countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity should mean support for China’s complete reunification, and commitment to one-China should mean opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence.” Realizing China’s complete reunification is a shared aspiration of the Chinese nation. It is an inevitable trend, and it is what the greater national interests entail. Seeking “Taiwan independence” is doomed to backfire, and using Taiwan to contain China will be nothing but a futile attempt. China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable.
Africa
Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a succinct and insightful response to the question about Sino-African relations posed by Ms. Onijala, a female journalist from News Agency of Nigeria who recently undertook research studies in China with our support. Wang Yi stressed that Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and African leaders, China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. China has established strategic partnership with all African countries having diplomatic ties with it. The China-Africa community with a shared future has been elevated to an “all-weather” level.
Over the past 25 years, China-Africa cooperation has earned widespread acclaim for its “tangible and substantive” outcomes. China has helped Africa build or upgrade nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, and more than 10,000 kilometers of railways. In the past three years alone, Chinese enterprises created more than 1.1 million new jobs in Africa. According to China Customs statistics, bilateral trade between China and Africa reached 2.1 trillion RMB (approximately 280 billion USD) in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 6.1% and a 24-fold surge since FOCAC’s inception, with an average annual growth rate of 14.2%. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Behind these figures lies the tangible improvement of infrastructure and livelihoods in African nations. To African brothers and sisters, China-Africa cooperation is visible, tangible and truly beneficial.
Africa is a fertile land of hope of the 21st century. There will be no global modernization without African modernization. This years marks the beginning of implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit. China stands ready to deliver on the ten partnership actions for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, including supporting Africa in accelerating its industrialization and agricultural modernization, implementing zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, fostering new growth drivers like digital, green and AI industries, promoting 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, enhancing governance experience sharing and raising the representation and voice of Africa in international affairs.
As members of a community with a shared future, China and Nigeria will continue advancing equality and mutual benefit, deepening cooperation in industrial and agricultural modernization, digital innovation, AI, and green development. Leveraging FOCAC as a platform and prioritizing people-centered progress, the two states will write a new chapter of friendship in the modern era.
We sincerely hope that think tank experts and media friends can fully leverage your professional expertise and talents to contribute to advancing China-Nigeria and China-Africa relationship to even higher levels.
