Latest news with #YuDunhai
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China eyes Africa as it shifts EV gears in face of US, EU tariffs
China is redirecting its electric vehicle (EV) strategy in the face of mounting tariffs from the US and EU, gradually pivoting from these established export markets towards emerging ones such as Africa The Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, revealed plans earlier this month for EV and battery plants in the West African country. This is expected to boost local industrialisation as well as help Nigeria to capitalise on its rich deposits of lithium, a critical material for EV batteries and other electronics. Chinese firms mining lithium in the country were seeking full-cycle local manufacturing, Yu told Dele Alake, Nigeria's solid minerals development minister, in the capital Abuja on May 15. '[Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] prioritises African industrialisation,' Yu added, as he outlined the plans under way for the EV and battery plants in Nigeria. Alake welcomed Beijing's moves, citing Nigeria's new focus on local value addition in leveraging natural resources, especially lithium, by encouraging local processing and EV manufacturing. This drive is clear in Nasarawa state, a solid minerals hub in Nigeria's north-central region that has attracted huge Chinese investment in the mining and processing of lithium. Chinese firm Avatar New Energy Materials launched Nigeria's largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa last May, with annual revenue estimated at US$500 million.
Voice of America
06-03-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
Nigeria, China crack down on Chinese nationals in financial crimes
Nigeria and China said this week they will cooperate in efforts to crack down on the increasing number of Chinese nationals taking part in financial crimes in the African country. The joint effort comes after Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai visited Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, in Abuja. In a statement posted to the EFCC website Tuesday, Dunhai expressed regret over the rising trend of Chinese nationals engaged in financial crimes in Nigeria. He assured Nigerian authorities that the Chinese government is ready to send delegates to work with local law enforcement agencies to address the issue. At the same time, Dunhai urged authorities to protect the rights of Chinese citizens while investigations are conducted. Since November, Nigerian authorities have arrested at least 400 Chinese nationals suspected of cybercrime, telecom fraud and illegal mining. Many of them are facing trial. But Nigerian political analyst Chukwudi Odoeme warned that China's influence over the process could undermine the rule of law. 'The collaboration looks good, but then the relationship between Nigeria and China is something that is suspicious in this particular arrangement,' Odoeme said. 'The collaboration may be defeated in the sense that China will have undue influence, and it may even lead to political release of those persons instead of subjecting them through the criminal trial system in Nigeria.' China is Nigeria's largest trading partner by value, with trade totaling $5 billion in 2023. In the first quarter of last year, Chinese companies provided 23% of Nigeria's total imports. Critics argue that Chinese nationals are exploiting trade routes and immigration loopholes to enter Nigeria illegally and engage in criminal activities. Authorities say many of the arrested Chinese nationals were found to be living in Nigeria without proper documentation. Public affairs analyst Jaye Gaskia raised concerns about the transparency of the collaboration. 'On what basis are you going into this collaboration? For what purpose?' he asked. 'The conversations around trying to develop such collaborative strategies also need to be transparent, so that citizens will be able to interrogate the process to see whether national interest is going to be somehow undermined. 'We have to be careful, and we have to ensure who does the prosecution,' Gaskia said. 'The best-case scenario is for the country not to cede its own sovereignty in terms of how this is going to happen.' Nigeria's debt to China exceeds $5 billion — more than the bilateral loans owed to all other countries combined. Meanwhile, Nigeria is seeking China's backing to join the grouping of the world's 20 largest economies, the G20, and secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. But political analyst Rotimi Olawale believes the debt should not influence how Nigeria handles criminal cases. 'I don't think that the debt we owe China, $5 billion, will affect anything,' Olawale said. 'That's government-to-government relations. The most important thing is that the case should not be politicized. We must clearly define our rules and uphold our laws.' Previously, Nigeria's parliament called for the mass deportation of illegal Chinese migrants.
Zawya
27-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria-China trade volume exceeds $20bln in 2024 — Envoy
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has disclosed that the trade volume between Nigeria and China in 2024 exceeded $20 billion as he assured that China is eager to work with Nigeria to increase trade volume further, as they see significant potential in the country. Dunhai while disclosing this on Saturday in Abuja at the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at the Chinese Cultural Centre, added that 'Nigeria is the country where China has the largest engineering contract, the second largest exporting market, and the third largest trade partner for China in Africa. According to him, '2024 was a successful year for the two countries, the climax of the success being the elevation of the two countries' bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership by President Bola Tinubu when he visited China. 2025 will be a lot better.' The ambassador noted that one of the key pillars of the Nigeria-China relationship is the very close people-to-people and cultural exchange, and the Chinese New Year celebration serves as a significant catalyst in promoting the exchange. 'Nigeria is a major African country that has world influence, and being a partner country of BRICS, China looks forward to working with it to implement the 10 Action Partnerships that will benefit citizens of the two countries. 'Happy Chinese New Year to all of the Chinese communities in Nigeria. I also wish the people of Nigeria a year filled with joy, peace, prosperity, and love. 'The year of the snake represents hard work, intelligence, happiness, so we hope that the year of the snake will bring peace and prosperity for Chinese and Nigerian people. 'Each year, we organize this Spring Festival Temple Fair, and this year, we invited over 2,000, both Nigerians and Chinese, to enjoy and celebrate together with us,' he said. Speaking on the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr. Oraeluno Raphael Obi, said the relationship between Nigeria and China is 'steeped in history,' marked by mutual respect and shared aspirations. 'Just as the snake sheds its skin to embrace new beginnings, our bilateral ties continue to evolve, reflecting our commitment to wisdom and transformation.' Obi noted that the two countries share a common trait, boasting rich and diverse cultures with deep historical roots that continue to influence their modern societies. According to him, despite their geographical distance, they find common ground in their shared values of family, community, and respect for elders, as reflected in the vibrant festivals of Nigeria and the colorful traditions of China. He added that the rich culinary delights, diverse artistic expressions, and cherished traditional practices of both two countries serve as vibrant testaments to the beauty of their cultures, cultivating a profound spirit of cross-cultural understanding and mutual appreciation. 'The goodwill that China has extended towards Nigeria in various sectors, particularly in culture and tourism, has been instrumental in enhancing our bilateral relationship. 'The collaborative efforts in cultural exchanges, art exhibitions, and tourism initiatives have not only enriched our societies but have also created avenues for economic growth and development. 'As we celebrate this new year, I would like to reaffirm our commitment to promoting and strengthening the bilateral cultural ties between Nigeria and China. 'The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy is dedicated to implementing policies and programmes that foster cultural exchange, support artistic collaborations and enhance Tourism opportunities. 'We envision a future where our cultural interactions flourish, creating a network of shared experiences that benefit both nations.' Also in his remarks, Mr. Xu Zhen Tao, the Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, said Nigeria and China have enjoyed a long-standing friendship since establishing diplomatic relations in the mid-20th century. He said: 'Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Nigeria cooperation not only deepens the bilateral relations, but creates more opportunities for realizing stability, prosperity and development across the African continent and even globally.' The Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research in Nigeria, Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, noted that the event is part of cultural integration, where we learn from each other. This mutual understanding, he added, enables us to coexist peacefully, as we accept and appreciate the values and norms of other cultures. 'China is a great civilization with a history of more than 5,000 years, and it strives to celebrate its culture worldwide. 'Similarly, Nigeria is proud of its rich cultural heritage, but the key difference between Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
