Partnership of equals and its impact on Nigeria's implementation of AfCFTA

Developing and monetizing the African trading sector is possible through the African Continental Free Trade Area. When fully implemented and ratified, this trade pact will encompass over 1 billion people across 55 countries, and have a combined GDP of about $3.4 trillion. The AfCFTA is also expected to boost competitiveness of member states, lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty and 68 million out of moderate poverty by 2035, increase intra-African exports by over 80 percent, and boost Africa's income by $450 billion. Through the AfCFTA, the African economy is expected to grow by $29 trillion by 2050. It is significant for the continent because a number of African nations developed insufficient and narrow merchant fleets during the 1960s and 1970s. The AfCFTA could change this, making intra-African trade significantly different from what it was.

As a member of the Economic Community of West African States, Nigeria has established various domestic economic programs such as Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. The AfCFTA has been cited as particularly beneficial for Nigeria, a historically marginalized nation with colonial trade patterns. As Nigeria lacks industrialization, combining the ERGP and AfCFTA would gradually change its colonial trade pattern, and significantly increase its imports and exports. Additionally, it will help diversify investment flows, accelerate growth and reverse the anti-industrialization trend.

The Belt and Road Initiative, nine programs implemented under the first three-year plan of the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, prepared at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Africa-China Dar es Salaam Consensus, align with the infrastructure and development agenda goals of the AfCFTA, jointly contribute to the global community of shared future, thereby enhancing cooperation for implementation of the AfCFTA trade agreement.

Moreover, all recognize trade as a major factor for inclusive growth and poverty reduction as well as an opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its export and import markets. China, in its cooperation with Nigeria, has taken into account the West's colonial and imperial legacy in Nigeria, as well as its own experience of being subjugated by it, when forming a partnership of equals that could impact Nigeria's successful implementation of the AfCFTA.

As a result, the Chinese government has used anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism as a common denominator in strengthening Sino-Nigerian relations. Due to this, China has repeatedly emphasized the need for rapid, sustainable and pro-poor growth and development through trade channels, especially in manufacturing products.

I believe, based on the above, that the Nigerian government with its current comprehensive policy framework in collaboration with China can successfully implement its AfCFTA goals and facilitate cross-border trade while pursuing its development agenda and closing its development gap. Taking into account China and Nigeria aiming to develop a comprehensive partnership at the same time as developing the Africa-China trade community and regional trade integration through AfCFTA, Nigeria believes that joining forces with China to develop development policy goals for sustainable and pro-poor economic growth and development through trade channels is imperative. By improving regional trade integration, the AfCFTA will accelerate Nigeria's development agenda, enabling it to reach its full potential and close its development gaps.

As a global leader in industrialization that wants to see Africa's development policy objective work in Africa, China has nurtured its relationship with African countries such as Nigeria for the past decades. Investing in African development projects like infrastructure development has opened up a new source of funds for Africa, allowing China to become the partner of choice for many African countries, including Nigeria. It is not surprising that China has gained considerable favor on the continent in general. Due to the AfCFTA, China intends to support Nigeria's successful implementation of its AfCFTA goals by strengthening the value chains of goods produced in Nigerian and other African markets. Furthermore, China intends to help Nigeria address its domestic supply-side constraints and boost its value-added production by providing research and knowledge management facilities. This will ultimately lead Nigeria to diversify its exports to China and other countries and to benefit from the Chinese consumer market. Also, Nigerians will be able to specialize in their crafts, align their production capacity with global standards, and enhance the infrastructure network of the country so that fresh produce can be transported to consumers within the country and across the continent more quickly, since the AfCFTA aims to promote economic integration and intra-Africa trade.

The AfCFTA is clearly focused on trade within Africa, but it may also indirectly affect trade relations between China and African countries such as Nigeria. Improved infrastructure and harmonized regulations on the continent could make African countries such as Nigeria more attractive for Chinese investment and trade partnerships, which could affect future trade dynamics between Africa and China. Consequently, there could be an increase in trade activity that could benefit both China and Nigeria directly, indirectly, and mutually, since China is one of Nigeria's most important trading partners and investors, involved in infrastructure, manufacturing and creative industries. Since Chinese leaders have consistently engaged with the region on several economic fronts in recent years; as such, numerous African leaders have concluded that no country can match China's economic engagement in Africa. Among the reasons for this is how Chinese direct investment has injected substantial growth into Africa's economy. Chinese government policies have helped alleviate employment problems, solve poverty problems in African countries, and make the relevant planning in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for world poverty alleviation a reality for Africans.

It is promising that China will assist Nigeria in implementing the AfCFTA, but security and economic experts will tell you Nigeria's success depends on an environment free of insecurity, especially maritime piracy. By partnering with Nigeria and promoting bilateral and multilateral Sino-Nigerian relations, China recognizes the importance of a safe environment free of insecurity issues. Thus, the Chinese government believes that addressing Nigeria's insecurity issues through preventive approaches that include fixing poverty, infrastructure and economic development issues is more significant for local people. And the Nigerian government should learn from Chinese experiences and explore its development path based on its own situation.

Looking ahead, Nigeria and China will advance their cooperation to build a Nigeria-China community with a shared future, which will help unleash their development potential in the new era.

The author is executive director of the Center for Nigerian Studies at the Institute of African Studies in Zhejiang Normal University. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.