Emmanuel Daudu
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, is in Beijing for the 12th Xiangshan Forum, where he has opened fresh talks with China on defence technology cooperation.
On Thursday, Badaru held a high-level bilateral meeting with China’s Minister of Equipment and Development, Air Chief Marshal Xu Xueqiang, focused on practical collaboration in defence technology, local military production, and joint capacity building.
According to Mati Ali, PA (Media & Publicity) to the Honourable Minister, the discussions zeroed in on strengthening industrial partnerships between Nigerian and Chinese defence manufacturers, building technical capacity, and exploring sustainable technology transfer in line with Nigerian laws and international standards.
Both sides also agreed to pursue cooperative training, exchange programmes, and potential joint projects that could boost Nigeria’s defence self-reliance and technological growth. Relevant agencies from both countries have been tasked with carrying out follow-up studies to translate proposals into concrete programmes and formal agreements.
The Xiangshan Forum, one of Asia’s biggest defence and security gatherings, brings together military leaders, experts, and officials from across the globe to debate pressing regional and global security issues. Nigeria’s active participation signals its growing commitment to international defence diplomacy and strengthening national capacity through strategic partnerships.
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