Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Defence H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON, mni, held a high‑level bilateral meeting with Air Chief Marshal Xu Xueqiang, Minister, Department of Equipment and Development, People’s Republic of China, on the sideline of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. This was contained in a statement signed by Mati Ali, PA (Media and Publicity), to the Honourable Minister of Defence.
The discussions focused on advancing practical cooperation in defence technology transfer, strengthening indigenous military production in Nigeria, and exploring wider defence-industrial collaboration.
Both delegations explored concrete avenues to:
• strengthen industrial partnerships between Nigerian and Chinese defence manufacturers;
• build technical and institutional capacity within Nigeria’s defence sector;
• enhances interoperability through cooperative training, exchange programmes and joint projects; and
• Identify areas for feasible, sustainable technology transfer consistent with Nigerian law and international obligations.
The meeting reaffirms Nigeria’s interest in pursuing practical, transparent, and mutually beneficial arrangements that will strengthen national defence capability and support economic and technological development at home. Both sides agreed to task relevant agencies to follow up on technical studies and proposals with a view to developing concrete programmes and, where appropriate, formal agreements.
The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum brings together defence and security officials, military leaders, and experts from around the world to discuss global and regional security challenges and cooperation. The Ministry of Defence’s participation underscores Nigeria’s commitment to active engagement in international defence diplomacy and capacity building.
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