By Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria
China has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national development, tackling corruption and promoting global economic stability through what it describes as the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) self-revolution and strict internal governance.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said the party’s commitment to self-discipline, accountability and institutional reforms remained central to China’s continued growth and its ambition to achieve national rejuvenation through modernization.
Dunhai stated this while reflecting on the outcome of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, recently concluded in Beijing, where a resolution on sustaining full and rigorous Party self-governance was adopted.
According to him, the resolution provides a strategic framework for strengthening party discipline, improving governance and creating the political foundation for China’s long-term development.
“To govern the country well, we must first govern the Party well; only when the Party thrives can the nation prosper,” the ambassador declared.
He maintained that China’s development achievements were closely linked to the party’s determination to confront corruption, correct internal weaknesses and strengthen its governance structures.
Dunhai noted that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the party had intensified its anti-corruption campaign and pursued comprehensive internal reforms, demonstrating its capacity for self-correction and institutional renewal.
He described self-revolution as more than a political concept, saying it had become a practical instrument for driving national development and improving the living conditions of millions of Chinese citizens.
“It is precisely by consistently advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance that the CPC has been able to rally the entire society into a powerful, unified force, translating governance efficacy into tangible development results,” he said.
The ambassador cited China’s emergence as a global manufacturing powerhouse, the expansion of its middle-income population to more than 400 million people and the country’s reported achievement in eliminating absolute poverty as evidence of the impact of its governance approach.
He also highlighted China’s contribution to global economic growth, estimating that the country had accounted for about 30 per cent of worldwide economic expansion for several consecutive years.
Dunhai said China’s continued economic development, alongside its commitment to opening up its economy, would provide fresh opportunities for international trade, investment and global supply-chain stability.
He added that the strategic decisions taken at the Fifth Plenary Session were not designed solely for China’s domestic development but also carried implications for the global economy.
On international relations, the Chinese envoy stressed that Beijing had no intention of exporting its governance model or imposing political conditions on other countries.
“China never exports its development model, attaches no political conditions, and never interferes in other countries’ internal affairs,” he said.
He explained that China remained willing to exchange governance experiences with political parties and organisations across the world, while respecting each country’s right to determine its own development priorities.
The ambassador further pointed to China’s Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative as platforms for strengthening international cooperation and addressing shared global challenges.
China Deepens Partnership with Africa
Dunhai described Africa as a strategic partner in China’s modernization drive and a major force within the Global South, stressing that Beijing remained committed to strengthening economic and political cooperation with African countries.
He said the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) had continued to provide an important platform for advancing mutually beneficial partnerships.
According to him, the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, where Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the Ten Partnership Actions for jointly advancing modernization, established a fresh framework for expanding cooperation between China and African countries.
He also highlighted China’s implementation, from May 1, 2026, of zero-tariff treatment for all African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, describing the policy as an important opportunity for African exporters and industrial development.
The ambassador said the initiative would strengthen Africa’s access to the Chinese market, promote exports and support the continent’s industrial transformation.
He added that the Communist Party of China was also expanding exchanges with African political parties on party administration, governance and national development.
Nigeria-China Relations Enter New Phase
On Nigeria, Dunhai described the country as a strategic player in Africa’s economic transformation, citing its population, economic potential and growing determination to pursue an independent development path.
He said his more than two years as Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria had given him firsthand insight into Nigerians’ desire for good governance, political stability and sustainable economic development.
” I have deeply felt the strong endogenous demand among all sectors of Nigerian society for good governance, stability and an independently chosen path of modernization,” he stated.
The envoy commended Nigeria’s efforts to pursue structural reforms, attract foreign investment, expand international trade and promote technological innovation.
He noted that the country’s emphasis on strategic autonomy and pragmatic foreign policy reflected its determination to strengthen the foundations of sustainable national development.
Dunhai further disclosed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Nigeria and China had entered a new phase of high-quality development under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, both countries are strengthening governance exchanges, aligning development priorities and expanding practical cooperation across several sectors for the mutual benefit of their citizens.
He expressed optimism that continued engagement between the two countries would deepen bilateral relations and create more opportunities for economic growth and people-to-people cooperation.
Looking ahead, the Chinese ambassador said Beijing would remain committed to party reforms, high-quality economic development, wider international engagement and the promotion of global peace.
He assured Nigeria and other international partners that China’s commitment to opening up would continue to expand.
“The dividends of China’s development belong not only to the Chinese people but also to the whole world,” Dunhai said.
He called on Nigeria and other countries of the Global South to strengthen solidarity, mutual understanding and mutually beneficial partnerships, expressing China’s readiness to work with Nigeria in advancing shared development aspirations.