Shettima Leaves For China To Attend 3rd Belt And Road Forum

Vic President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja, Nigeria for Beijing in China to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum.

In a statement on Sunday, presidential spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima would represent President Bola Tinubu at the forum.

Nwokocha said Shettima would join world leaders from over 130 countries at the forum which will hold from October 16 to 18.

According to Nwokocha, the theme of the forum is “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity”.

Nkwocha said Shettima is expected to avail Nigeria the platform provided by the forum to woo investors for more developmental projects.

He added that Shettima would hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.

He said: “The 2023 edition of the BRI will mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by the President of China, Xi Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy.

“Adopted and launched by the government of the People’s Republic of China in 2013.

“The initiative seeks international action to enhance cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes.”

He noted that in 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China.

“Nigeria and other partner countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations,” he added.

Nkwocha said the delegation of the vice president to the forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali.

Others are the Minister of Works, David Umahi; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhira; and the Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Micheal Ohiani.

Shettima To Leave China For USA

Nkwocha added that in pursuance of the Food Security and Diversification Policy of the Tinubu administration, the vice president will depart China for the United States.

He said Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize in the US on October 24.

He said: “While in the US as the special guest, Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize – facilitated by Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence on October 24th, 2023.

“Also, he will join other African international leaders, Heads of State and Government who in the past have delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue.

“They include former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor, AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adeshina and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others.”

The media aide also said Shettima is expected to highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian agrifood sector.

He said: “The Vice President will engage several stakeholders, partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria.

“Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the vice president who is expected to be back to the country after his commitments in the US.”