Bauchi: 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 include Brittany Region, France; Vitebsk Region, the Republic of Belarus; Borsod-Borsod-Abaºj-Zempl©n County, Hungary; Wakayama Prefecture, Japan; and South Gyeonsang Province, the Republic of Korea.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, 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, Hammayo shared that the partnership agreement between Bauchi and Shandong was formalised in 2023 and had since yielded tangible benefits. He mentioned that several Chinese companies have been operating in mining and agriculture in Bauchi and that Chinese firms were also involved in construction projects in the state. Hammayo 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.
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, which include 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.
The event, which started on May 26, will conclude on May 30, featuring activities such as business matchmaking, the Shandong International Friendship Cities Achievement Exhibition, and the Governors’ Dialogue. Additionally, six provincial level and 13 municipal level sister-city agreements were signed to further expand Shandong’s global network.
