{
  "id": 3878809,
  "title": "Chargé d’Affaires: China Imported $2.3bn Nigerian Goods in Six Months",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/charge-daffaires-china-imported-2-3bn-nigerian-goods-in-six-months",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T03:04:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/28/charge-daffaires-china-imported-2-3bn-nigerian-goods-in-six-months/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the span of six months, the Asian economic colossus, China, imported nearly $2.3 billion worth of Nigerian goods, marking an impressive 80 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to Zhou Hongyou, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria. This surge in trade, which saw total bilateral trade between the two nations rise by 75 percent year-on-year to $18 billion, highlights the growing economic ties between China and Nigeria. The diplomat made the announcement at the Nigeria-China Food Festival held at the China Cultural Centre, emphasizing the strategic advantage China offers Nigeria through its zero-tariff policy for African nations with diplomatic relations with China. Zhou encouraged Nigeria to seize this opportunity to significantly boost its exports to China, a move that could diversify the country's economy beyond its heavy reliance on petroleum. The diplomat noted that the expanding bilateral relationship is not confined to trade, but is also characterized by a growing exchange in culture and people-to-people interactions. Zhou highlighted that 2026 marks 55 years of formal diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, a milestone that underscores the enduring nature of their relationship. He urged both nations to further deepen cooperation in education, culture, technology, arts, and youth affairs, arguing that strengthening people-to-people ties would be crucial for sustaining the bilateral relationship for future generations. The festival also showcased the potential of Nigeria’s culinary heritage as an economic opportunity, particularly in tourism, hospitality, and job creation. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, highlighted the food industry as a major economic opportunity, calling for greater collaboration in gastronomy, tourism, hospitality, culinary education, and creative entrepreneurship. The event also highlighted the potential of cultural diplomacy, with Nigerian and Chinese artists combining traditional Nigerian drums with Chinese percussion instruments. The collaboration could foster a deeper mutual understanding and provide opportunities for Nigerian artists to perform in China.",
  "summary": "Michael Olugbode in Abuja Asian economic giant, China, imported almost $2.3 billion worth of Nigerian goods in just six months, marking an almost 80 per cent increase over the same",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}