By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria has taken another step in deepening its international defence partnerships as the Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, held a high-level bilateral meeting with Air Chief Marshal Xu Xueqiang, Minister, Department of Equipment and Development of the People’s Republic of China, on the sidelines of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
In an official statement signed by his personal assistant on Media and Publicity, Mati Ali, it was disclosed that the discussions centred on advancing practical cooperation in defence technology transfer, strengthening indigenous military production in Nigeria, and exploring broader defence-industrial collaboration between the two countries.
During the meeting, both delegations examined concrete avenues for strengthening industrial partnerships between Nigerian and Chinese defence manufacturers. They also deliberated on how to build technical and institutional capacity within Nigeria’s defence sector, enhance interoperability through cooperative training, exchange programmes and joint projects, as well as identify areas for feasible and sustainable technology transfer that are consistent with Nigerian law and international obligations.
The talks, according to the statement, reaffirm Nigeria’s interest in pursuing practical, transparent and mutually beneficial arrangements that will not only bolster national defence capability but also support economic growth and technological development at home. Both sides agreed to mandate relevant agencies to follow up on technical studies and proposals, with a view to developing concrete programmes and, where necessary, formal agreements that will drive implementation.
The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a major global security platform that brings together defence and security officials, military leaders and experts from around the world to deliberate on pressing global and regional security challenges as well as avenues for cooperation. Nigeria’s participation, the Ministry of Defence noted, underscores the country’s commitment to active engagement in international defence diplomacy and capacity building.
