CGTN Europe interviewed Muhammad Ali Pate, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria
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00:00China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has ended his tour of Africa.
00:05He's visited Nigeria, Namibia, the Republic of Congo and Chad.
00:10The trip continues a 35-year tradition of beginning Beijing's diplomatic calendar in Africa.
00:16Mohamed Ali Pate is Nigerian Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare.
00:22I think the relationship of the African continent with China has been a long one.
00:28It's been a productive one in many respects.
00:31For us in Nigeria, there have been several facets of that in trade, in investments, and in different sectors.
00:39In my own sector, in health, there are relationships that can only get better
00:44when it comes to production of local commodities, medical equipment and trade,
00:50and also overall in terms of the infrastructural development of our country.
00:55So it's a positive moment where the relationship between China and the continent,
01:01and in particular with Nigeria, I think is getting stronger.
01:04That is the signaling.
01:06Of course, it's in the context of a global community where we've got several relationships all over the world
01:14trying to solve the problems that are ahead of us, whether it's in health, whether it's in economy,
01:19and to grow our economy overall.
01:23Absolutely, and you mentioned solving problems.
01:25So as Nigeria's health minister, how does Nigeria specifically benefit from this trip,
01:31and what decisions have been made?
01:34I think it's an ongoing conversation.
01:38This is one marker, and there will be more in the period ahead.
01:43As we engage with partners from all over the world to renew our health sector,
01:48we're investing in ways that will strengthen our health system, our primary health care system.
01:53China has had experience with a primary health care system that functioned,
01:58or it's upgrading tertiary hospitals to deliver quality services for our people,
02:04or upgrading medical equipment, or producing locally products that we can use
02:10to treat patients and enhance our own health security,
02:13or in public health arena to ensure that we protect ourselves, our region,
02:19but also the world in terms of infectious diseases.
02:23We have these conversations.
02:25It's not only with China, but with several other parts of the world.
02:28So the way we see it is that there are issues that we deal with at the country level,
02:33and we have several partners, including China, that are engaging with us.
02:37So for us, this visit is a marker in terms of Nigeria-China relationship,
02:42and it opens further doors to continue exploring where the fit exists.
02:47But there are facets of the conversation that are, of course, outside the health sector,
02:52in trade, in infrastructure, and in other arenas.
02:55And how can China benefit then?
02:58Well, trade is one that benefits all parts that engage in trade,
03:04and I think each entity will have its comparative advantage in terms of what it does.
03:09For us as Nigeria, we have a large growing population.
03:13Our health sector is growing, and it's going to increase as a portion of our GDP,
03:20as our economy grows.
03:22I think it is in all countries' interest to see that Nigeria has a healthier population
03:27that is able to protect itself, but also protect others,
03:32because infectious diseases know no borders.
03:35They can move from one country to the other.
03:37So from that point of view, it's in our collective interest,
03:40whether it's China, whether it's Europe, or the other parts of the world.