The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s state visit to China was not a jamboree.
Prof. Viola Onwuliri, the Minister of State 1 for Foreign Affairs, disclosed FEC’s position on the visit after the Council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
President Jonathan on Monday led a high-powered team to China for talks with Chinese leaders and captains of industry to canvass for increased direct Chinese investment in Nigeria’s economy.
Onwuliri said the Council noted that the visit was in line with the administration’s vision to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and other nations and expressed satisfaction with it.
She also faulted a claim in certain quarters, that the reception accorded Jonathan, who was received by a junior minister on arrival at the Beijing airport, was a slight on him.
The president was reportedly received at the Capital Airport in Beijing, by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Yucheng and Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Alhaji Aminu Wali.
“When you have a high powered team visit like that, there is always division of labour.
“If a particular minister is engaged to do a particular job he will do it.
“Like when the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, came here, I was the one that received her.
“In international relations we do not see it the way the ordinary people see it.
“We are talking about a nation that is not English-speaking. Again, you have to know whom to send to receive a president from a particular country in terms of language, in terms of cultural relationship and in terms of the person’s job,’’ she explained.
The minister restated the importance of Nigeria in the comity of nations, adding, “our country is highly rated around the world and China will never slight Nigeria’’.
“No country will want to have problems with Nigeria for now, because on the African continent we are still number one and that is why we have more and more people coming here.’’
Speaking in the same vein, the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, said that in line with international best practices, visiting Heads of State have designated government officials who receive them.
He stressed that with the status of Nigeria, China or any other country would not hold the country and its president in low esteem.
“I think that Nigerians should very anxiously await the outcome of the state visit of the president and weigh the results of the trip.
“We should look at the strategic arrangements that have been made to enhance the partnership between the two countries, before we jump into conclusion as to whether the visit is in the best interest of the country,’’ he said.
The delegation included the First Lady, Dame Patience, some governors, members of the National Assembly and ministers as well as representatives of the private sector.