摘要
The paper argues that the rise of China may well be the most significant trend today redefining the geopolitics of Asia and the world beyond. However, economic, political, and security cooperation between China and Nigeria has grown exponentially in the last decades, presenting new opportunities and challenges for Nigeria and Africa as whole. Essentially, this significant development about China has been linked to its ＂opening-up policy,＂ which has taken effect since the 1980s. The contemporary waves of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria appear to be mutually beneficial to a reasonable extent. China views Nigeria as a gateway to the West African region, which has become a key focus of China＇s trade and economic strategy in Africa. More interestingly, the past four decades have been a critical period for Chinese people to seek harmonious, scientific, and sustainable development at home and strengthen cooperation and embrace globalization with the outside world. Nigeria, like many other African countries, has gratitude in counting China as one of its friends in the global village. The year 2013 marks the 42na anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People＇s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These bilateral ties have witnessed sustained, rapid and unprecedented development. Based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, respect and trust, especially under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation known as FOCAC, China and Nigeria have enjoyed fruitful cooperation in economy, trade, investment, human resources development, and cultural exchanges and coordination in international affairs. This study looks into this great relationship and tries to outline the path that leads into the future.
