Bauchi State has been honoured with the Outstanding Partnership Award by China’s Shandong Province at the 2025 Shandong International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week (IFCCE), currently underway.
The prestigious recognition places Bauchi among global counterparts such as Brittany Region (France), Vitebsk Region (Belarus), Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County (Hungary), Wakayama Prefecture (Japan), and South Gyeongsang Province (South Korea) for fostering strong and impactful international relationships.
The week-long global forum, hosted by the Shandong Provincial Foreign Affairs Office and the Shandong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, attracted more than 900 participants from 47 countries, including Kenya, Malaysia, Brazil, and Tonga.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the award is aimed at deepening global partnerships and encouraging people-to-people connections between China and its international friends.
Representing Nigeria, the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, led the delegation that received the award on behalf of the state. Hammayo disclosed that the partnership between Bauchi and Shandong was formalised in 2023 and has since produced significant results.
“We have had a blossoming relationship since the agreement was signed and several Chinese companies have been operating in mining and agriculture in Bauchi,” he told NAN.
He also highlighted the growing involvement of Chinese firms in Bauchi’s construction sector, describing the state’s participation in the Shandong event as a chance to strengthen ongoing dialogue and expand collaboration.
In a keynote address, Mr. Lin Wu, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shandong Provincial Committee, described Shandong as a province steeped in history, culture, and Confucian ideals, with a strong inclination for global cooperation. Lin noted that the province, which has partnered with over 230 regions globally, achieved a 15.7% GDP growth in 2024—surpassing the national average.
He urged stronger global partnerships to address emerging challenges like economic disruption and environmental degradation, reaffirming Shandong’s commitment to mutual progress.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, underscored the role of international media and cultural exchanges in enhancing global cooperation and understanding.
Chen proposed three strategic suggestions to fortify global collaboration: promoting inclusive development through shared platforms, ensuring safety and sustainability in joint ventures, and encouraging widespread participation for equitable benefits.
“These partnerships have supported local development and aligned with national strategies, and this forum is a living example of how cooperation between China and other nations fosters global peace and prosperity,” Chen said.
The IFCCE, which began on May 26 and will end on May 30, includes high-level activities such as business matchmaking sessions, the Shandong International Friendship Cities Achievement Exhibition, and the Governors’ Dialogue.
During the event, six provincial and 13 municipal sister-city agreements were signed, further expanding Shandong’s global network of strategic partnerships.
