By Dr Austin Maho
On October 18th, 2016 when ambassador Zhou Pingjian presented his Letter of Credence to President Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja there were high hopes that a new page was about to open in China Nigeria relationship.
The then-incoming ambassador was upbeat when conveying President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings to President Buhari. As the new Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, he promised to work with Nigeria to take China-Nigeria strategic partnership to new heights to the greater benefits of the two countries and peoples.
His mandate was clear cut. He wanted to see more Chinese investments in Nigeria, more cooperation and counterpart funding of critical projects, technology and skill transfer and a favourable balance in trade between Nigeria and China.
As the curtain falls on his tour of duty, after four years, we can unequivocally say that Pingjian has met and surpassed himself in several fronts.
During his tenure, Chinese investments in Nigeria has grown significantly. Nigeria’s infrastructural development has received financial boost from China and the trade balance between Nigeria and China has significantly improved. Data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows that funds from China have gone into eleven different infrastructure projects across the country, in roads, rails and bridges. More Chinese investments and investors have flowed into the country from China in the last four years than at any other time in the country’s bilateral relationship with China since 1971.
He not only promoted Chinese investment in Nigeria he was also a champion of integrity and commitment. A major plank of his tenure was to ensure that no Chinese project fails in Nigeria, even if the executing Chinese company had to take a loss.
Zhou Pingjian was a bridge builder a believer in made in Nigeria with China and he used all his energies to promote the concept that Chinese companies can set up factories in Nigeria working with Nigerians and sourcing local raw materials and weaning Nigeria from over-dependence on Chinese imports.
It is on records that in the last four years of his mission, more Chinese companies have opened up factories and manufacturing plants in the country more than ever before.
At every given opportunity he draws a parallel between the developmental trajectories of China and Nigeria. He believes that Nigeria would roar and achieve its full potential not just to lead Africa but become a global player.
He was a friend of the Nigerian media and at every turn, sort to give media practitioners in the country the opportunity to experience the real China, which had faced a relentless barrage of Western media propaganda. He was proactive in information giving, he not only made his personal phone number available to journalists to call him directly to clarify issues when the occasion so demand, but he also maintained one of the most vibrant media offices in the history of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria.
In the face of the global coronavirus pandemic which first hit China, the embassy proactively issued a daily update on the situation in China especially in Hubei province until the situation was brought under control. This ensured that rumours and speculations were kept out of the Nigerian media.
It remains to his credit that many Nigerian journalists benefited from trips to China to experience the real China from within and make up their minds themselves if China was actually the Communist gulag as portrayed by the West.
As an erudite scholar, he also used his scholarly prowess to address many issues as it affects his country. he wrote extensively on the issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
There were no internment camps in Xinjiang where Uighur Muslims were being held against their wish, but there were training and skill acquisition centres designed to equip the Uighur with life skills to be able to integrate fully into Chinese society rather than trading in terror. This was a strategic response by the Chinese government to terrorist activities in the Uighur region.
Hong Kong remains a special administrative zone of China and China would respect and maintain, the one country two systems principles of the region. On the new national security law, he believes it’s a sword and a shield. A sword to protect Hong Kong from the activities of secessionists under the guise of pro-democracy movement and a Shield to protect Hong Kongers to be able to live their lives and conduct their business without fear for their lives.
he also wrote published articles on the coronavirus pandemic.
He believes that solidarity and cooperation would conquer the coronavirus pandemic and that Nigeria and the rest of the world should learn from the Chinese experience in containing the coronavirus.
“As one of the countries hit by the first wave in the pandemic, China was the first to bring COVID-10 under control. There must be something worth looking at. China has taken the most comprehensive, stringent and thorough measures to fight the virus. It works, albeit at huge cost” He said in his article.
It was not all a rosy ride for ambassador Pingjiang, there were awkward moments, moments when he had to respond to several summons by the Ministry of Affairs to defend controversial Chinese government policies and prove that China is truly a friend of Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Perhaps no issue was more testy for the outgoing ambassador than the Guangdong incident that pitched many Nigerians against the Chinese government and sort to portray China as discriminatory against black.
He consistently maintained that the measures in Guangdong were not discriminatory but universal, applied in equal measures to Chinese citizens and foreigners alike to contained the spread of the coronavirus.
“All the measures taken there were aim to fight against the COVID-19, not against any Nigerian, any African, or any foreign national”.
“As for the issues raised regarding the situation of Nigerians in Guangdong involved in local outbreak response, the Guangdong authorities attach great importance to Nigeria’s concerns and work promptly to improve their working method.
It is my assessment that all of them were caused by a lack of communication or misunderstanding. We thank all Nigerian brothers and sisters in China for bearing with us in such a trying time no one ever expected or wanted” he said
He insists that in China, “all foreign nationals are treated equally. We reject any differential treatment, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination. Nothing whatsoever has changed in China’s policy of friendship towards Africa. China cherishes its strategic partnership with Nigeria. Nigerian friends can count on getting fair, just, cordial and friendly reception in China” he said at the heat of the controversy.
Through his direct and indirect intervention, China has given unprecedented aid to the Nigeria government at all levels in the fight against Covid19. Donations of medical supplies have poured into Nigeria from the Chinese government, private individuals and institutions. Chinese companies doing businesses in Nigeria under his guidance have rallied round in aid of the country, donating tons of medical supplies and giving palliatives to the needy.
He saw the need to help Nigeria combat the virus as non-negotiable.
“Both China and Africa face the formidable task of combating the virus while stabilizing the economy and protecting people’s livelihoods. As President Xi stressed at the Summit, (China Africa Summit) we must always put our people and their lives front and centre. We must mobilize the necessary resources, stick together in collaboration, and do whatever it takes to protect people’s lives and health and minimize the fallout of COVID-19”.
Perhaps the greatest testimony of ambassador Zhou Pingjian tour of duty came from President Muhammadu Buhari himself. The president at a farewell meeting, lauded the growth of Nigeria China bilateral relationship during the four years stint of ambassador Pingjian.
Buhari paid tribute to the outgoing ambassador and China’s contributions in financing and building badly-needed infrastructure during his tenure. “Please convey our appreciation to President Xi Jinping for the contribution of China towards reversing the infrastructure deficit we suffer in the areas of rail, roads, airports, and power,” President Buhari told ambassador Zhou.
The cordial send-off for the departing Chinese ambassador also reflects the close political ties between the two countries.
Ambassador Zhou will be sourly missed, as we say far thee well to this friend of Nigeria it is hoped that the incoming Chinese ambassador would not find his shoes too big to fit.
