NAN
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday reassured the global community of the safety of all participants in the World Economic Forum (WEF) scheduled for May in Abuja.
He gave the assurance at an audience with China’s new Ambassador to Nigeria; Mr Gu Xiaojie who presented his letters of credence to him at the Presidential Villa.
The President said the security challenge being experienced in parts of the country would not affect the safety of participants in the forum.
Jonathan welcomed the confirmation by China that its delegation to the forum would be led by Premier Li Keqiang.
“The Chinese delegation will bring regional and global leaders together to discuss innovative structural reforms and investments.
“This can sustain the continent’s current growth trajectory and create jobs. I am quite pleased that the Premier of the People’s Republic of China has confirmed that he is coming.
“We will be addressing the World Economic Forum on Africa together. We will also sit down together to discuss shared national interests.
“We will give all participants good reception in Abuja. We have faced security challenge, but we will overcome the situation so that our economy can move forward faster.
“Participants will not have problem with security during the summit”, he said.
The ambassador assured the President of China’s confidence in Nigeria’s security measures and ability to host the forum.
“From our assessment, we are confident that all is under control and we have relayed that to our people”, he said.
The ambassador applauded Nigeria’s re-basing of its GDP and the country’s emergence as the number one economy in Africa.
He noted that it would certainly stimulate the inflow of more foreign investors.
The President also received the letters of credence of the new Malaysian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Lim Juay and the new Ambassador of Thailand, Mr Chailert Limsoboom.
He urged the three envoys to do their best to further expand areas of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and their respective countries.
The President wished them successful and rewarding tenures in Nigeria.
