Damilola Oyedele
7 November 2009
Abuja — The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Xu Jianguo has called on the Nigerian Customs Service, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and other relevant authorities to work with China in its effort to curb the influx of fake products from China to Nigeria.
Jianguo also lamented that contrary to popular beliefs, it was easier for Nigerians to get Chinese visas than it is for Chinese to get visa to Nigeria. He however stated that his country was talking to relevant authorities on the issue as it could be an impediment to the development of business ties between both nations.
Speaking with THISDAY at the opening ceremony of the Photo Exhibition on achievements of follow-up actions of the Beijing Summit on the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Abuja yesterday, Xu reiterated that the influx of fake products was due to the activities of corrupt business men; both Nigerian and Chinese who produced sub-standard products to cut costs.
"China has a lot of standard products which are of high quality because we have a production standard. This is a very complicated problem and it involves illegal business men who produce and sell sub-standard products. We hope that Nigerian relevant agencies would work together with their counterparts in China to curb this problem" he said.
Xu also lamented that it was harder for Chinese to get visa into Nigeria; as according to him, the Chinese Consular in Lagos has issued over 40,000 visas in 2009 alone, while less than 10,000 have gotten Nigerian visas.
Although, he could not provide any reason for this development, he said his country was in talk with relevant Nigerian authorities to enhance business ties between both countries. But less 10,000 Chinese have gotten visa to come here but we have reached out to the relevant authorities. . We welcome the exchange of citizens between both countries especially with the business ties which exist between us. We ask citizens of both nations, when visiting each other to obey the law of the locales" he added.
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