Zhou Pingjian, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria speaks during a reception to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Abuja, Nigeria, Sept. 26, 2019. A reception was held on Thursday by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

　　ABUJA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A reception was held on Thursday by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

　　Addressing the reception, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Pingjian said that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, no matter what stage of development China reaches and how the international situation evolves.

　　In recent years, China and Nigeria have enhanced political trust and reaped fruits in practical cooperation, Zhou said, adding that China-Nigeria relations are at their best in history and face new opportunities for growth.

　　The ambassador said China is willing to work with Nigeria to enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), facilitate Nigeria's economic recovery and growth plan, and further push forward the bilateral strategic partnership.

　　Addressing the reception, Zubairu Dada, Nigeria's minister of state for foreign affairs, said his country and China enjoy a strategic partnership in all aspects of their bilateral relationship. Nigeria values this friendship and partnership with China.

　　"Nigeria deeply appreciates the growing level of cooperation and technical assistance provided by China in several sectors of the economy both at the bilateral level and through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)," Dada said.

　　"There is no doubt that Nigeria will continue to build a stronger partnership with China in years to come," Dada said.

　　He also said Nigeria will learn from the development experience of China to facilitate the West African country's efforts toward economic diversification.