A delegation of officials from The People's Republic of China arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, on Thursday (2 November). The ten-man party will spend ten days touring the country and discussing trading possibilities. On Friday, the two nations signed and economic and technical co-operation agreement, signatories being Dr Adebayo Adedeji, the Federal Commissioner for Economic Development and Reconstruction, and Mr Fang Yi, China's Minister of Economic Relations with Foreign Countries, who led the delegation. The Chinese ambassador in Nigeria, Mr Yank Chi-Liang, was deputy leader. Other members included Mr Cheng Fei (Departmental Director, Ministry of Economic relations with Foreign Countries); Mr Wen Yeh-Chan (Deputy Director of the Department of African Affairs) and Mr Wang Ming-Chun (Deputy Departmental Manager, Ministry of Foreign Trade).

Mr Fang Yi's arrival speech was made in Chinese and translated into English. He said: