By Busayo Onijala

Bauchi State has received an outstanding partnership award from Shandong Province, China, at the ongoing 2025 Shandong International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week (IFCCE).

Other recipients of the outstanding partnerships award are Brittany Region, France; Vitebsk Region, the Republic of Belarus; Borsod-Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary; Wakayama Prefecture, Japan; and South Gyeonsang Province, the Republic of Korea.

The week-long event, organised by the Shandong Provincial Foreign Affairs Office and the Shandong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, attracted over 900 participants from 47 countries including Kenya, Malaysia, Brazil and Tonga.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the partnership award serves as a major platform to deepen international partnerships and people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.

Nigeria’s delegation, led by the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, received the recognition for an outstanding and growing collaboration with Shandong Province.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Hammayo said the partnership agreement between Bauchi and Shandong was formalised in 2023 and had since yielded tangible benefits.

“We have had a blossoming relationship since the agreement was signed and several Chinese companies have been operating in mining and agriculture in Bauchi,” he said.

He noted that Chinese firms were also involved in construction projects in the state and described the delegation’s visit to Shandong as an opportunity to take discussions to a higher level, considering the ever-evolving relationship between both states.

In his keynote address, the Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shandong Provincial Committee, Mr Lin Wu, described the province as one rich in culture and history, deeply rooted in Confucian thought and global openness.

With over 230 countries and regions having established economic partnerships with Shandong, it recorded a 15.7 per cent GDP growth in 2024, surpassing China’s national average.

Lin called for global partnerships in the face of challenges including economic disruptions and environmental concerns, adding that Shandong was ready to collaborate for mutual benefit.

Also, Mr Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, stressed the importance of international media and cultural exchanges in promoting global understanding and development.

He offered three key suggestions to strengthen cooperation.

NAN reports that the suggestions are promoting inclusive global development through shared platforms, prioritising safety and sustainability in international projects, and encouraging broader participation to ensure shared benefits across all regions.

“These partnerships have supported local development and aligned with national strategies, and this forum is a living example of how cooperation between China and other nations fosters global peace and prosperity,” Chen said.

The event, which started on May 26 will end on May 30.

It is featuring activities including business matchmaking, Shandong International Friendship Cities Achievement Exhibition and Governors’ Dialogue.

There was the signing of six provincial level and 13 municipal level sister-city agreements to further expand Shandong’s global network. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola