From July 3 2024, Nigerian mainstream media Guardian, Vanguard, theSun, theNation, NewTelegraph, BusinessDay and local Chinese newpapers West Africa Chinese Newspaper, West Africa Chinese Newspapers, West Africa Business Weekly published an Op-Ed article written by Consul General of China in Lagos Ms. Yan Yuqing, with the theme of from the Implementation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to Building a community with a Shared Future for Mankind.

The full text is as follows:

This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Seventy years ago, the Chinese leadership specified the Five Principles in their entirety for the first time, namely, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, which were warmly welcomed by all countries of the world, especially the vast number of developing countries, as soon as they were put forward. In the Bandung Conference in 1955, ten principles for handling state-to-state relations on the basis of the Five Principles were proposed, advocating the Bandung spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation. The Non-Aligned Movement that rose in the 1960s adopted the Five Principles as its guiding principles. The Declaration on Principles of International Law in 1970 and many other important international documents, endorsed the Five Principles.

The long-term friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Nigeria also benefits from the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. On February 10, 1971, the governments of China and Nigeria signed the joint communiqué establishing ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations. The joint communiqué explicitly stated that both governments agreed to develop diplomatic, friendly, and cooperative relations between the two countries based on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. For over half a century, the two countries have consistently developed comprehensive, multi-faceted, and mutually beneficial cooperative relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Over the past 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have transcended time and space and overcome estrangement, showing robust resilience and everlasting relevance. They have become open, inclusive, and universally applicable basic norms for international relations and fundamental principles of international law. They have made indelible historic contributions to the cause of human progress.

“The greatest truths are the simplest, and hard work is the key”. Today, we have come to a new historical juncture. Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, providing a new answer to what kind of world to build and how to build it. This is the best way to inherit, advance and enrich the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence under new circumstances. As President Xi Jinping puts it, the baton of history is passed from generation to generation, and the cause of human progress moves forward from one era to another as mankind seek answers to the questions of the times.

The implementation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is an ongoing process. So is the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China stands ready to work with all countries, including Nigeria, through greater unity, cooperation, communication and understanding to meet global challenges and build a beautiful world together.

We need to cement the foundation of friendship and cooperation with mutual respect. China is the largest developing country in the world, and Nigeria is Africa’s leading economy and most populous country. Both countries need to find their place and play their role in the multipolar system. In the Joint Statement of the First Plenary Session of the Intergovernmental Committee between the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, signed this June, the Nigerian side acknowledges the one-China policy, opposes any separatist activities of “Taiwan independence” in any form, and any external attempts to interfere in China’s internal affairs, and Nigeria will also support the efforts made by the Chinese government to realize national reunification. And China recognize Nigeria’s leading role in the fight against terrorism and other related transborder crimes, commends His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership role in ECOWAS and his efforts towards bringing about stability in the region. The two sides will work towards good governance and democratic values, peace , security and stability in the Sahel region.

We need to foster a pattern of universal security with joint contribution for shared benefit. China and Nigeria need to endeavour to enhance political mutual trust, and further support each other on matters related to its core interests and major concerns. China is willing to support Nigeria in its military capacity building to respond more effectively to different kinds of security challenges, and to safeguard peace and stability of the country. Since last year, military exchanges between China and Nigeria have been frequent. Nigerian Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, visited China and attended a conference, and delegations from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force and Navy, as well as the 43rd and 46th escort task forces of the Chinese Navy, have made friendly visits to Nigeria. These efforts demonstrate the commitment of both countries to jointly implement the Global Security Initiative.

We need to promote a wave of development and prosperity with opening up and cooperation. China advocates and promotes a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, enabling the people of China and Nigeria to share in the fruits of development together. Nigeria has become China’s largest engineering contracting market in Africa, the third-largest trading partner, and a major destination for Chinese investment. In 2023, bilateral trade reached $22.56 billion, and by the end of 2023, Chinese enterprises had signed cumulative engineering contracts worth $162.68 billion in Nigeria. In recent years, Chinese-built projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port and Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line and Red Line, have come into operation. Chinese tech companies have driven the development of Nigeria’s digital economy and mobile payments, and new energy and new materials enterprises have supported Nigeria’s industrial upgrading. The Lekki Free Trade Zone, Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, and various other industrial parks are expanding in scale. The deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Nigeria is a significant force in advancing a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

We need to open up new vistas for human civilization with inclusiveness and mutual learning. Both China and Nigeria are nations with long histories and splendid civilizations. The Chinese Film Festivals are successfully held annually in Nigeria. Since the beginning of this year, the Chinese Consulate-General in Lagos has initiated the Lagos Forum series of academic activities, deepening academic exchanges and strengthening mutual understanding and trust between Chinese and Nigerian scholars. We have organized a variety of cultural exchange activities in conjunction with the celebration of traditional Chinese festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Spring Festival, and Lantern Festival, as well as October 1st, which marks both China’s National Day and Nigeria’s Independence Day. Traditional Chinese cultural arts, like lion-dances, dragon-dances, waist-drum performances, martial arts (Chinese Kungfu), and calligraphy, have been showcased alongside Nigerian cultural expressions such as Afrobeats, the Yoruba-Igbo-and-Hausa dances, and Nigerian cuisine. These activities have harmoniously presented on the same stage, vividly demonstrating the friendship and closer people-to-people ties between China and Nigeria.

We need to steer the future of global governance with fairness and justice. China and Nigeria need to strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs and jointly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law. The two countries should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, and jointly promotes building a community with a shared future for humanity. We are willing to work hand in hand with the Nigerian side to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping. Furthermore, we anticipate the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing this September, which will outline the future of building a community with a shared future for China and Africa.

“Reviewing the past enables us to learn about the law governing the evolution of history.” We must closely follow the underlying historical trend so as to chart the course for the future. Proceeding from this new historical milestone, as the initiator of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China will continue to work with all sides, Nigeria included, to carry forward the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, shoulder the responsibility of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and make unremitting efforts toward a brighter future of humanity.