In the evening of May 6, 2014 local time, Premier Li Keqiang, at the invitation of President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, arrived at the Abuja International Airport by special plane, starting his official visit to Nigeria. Premier Li Keqiang's wife Mme. Cheng Hong arrived by the same plane. Foreign Minister Aminu Wali, Minister of Labor and Productivity Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Nigeria and others were at the airport to welcome them. Bala, following the traditional etiquette for distinguished guests, presented the Key of the City Abuja to Li Keqiang. The young people performed folk songs and dances, warmly welcoming Li Keqiang and his wife. H.E. Gu Xiaojie, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, welcomed the delegation at the airport.
Li Keqiang said, as the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria is an important cooperative partner of China in Africa. China and Nigeria enjoy close high-level exchanges and the bilateral strategic partnership keeps stepping up on new highs. I am looking forward to the in-depth exchange of views with the state leaders of Nigeria on bilateral relations and topics of common interest, carrying forward our traditional friendship and planning the mutually beneficial cooperation through this visit, to push forward the China-Nigeria relations.
During the visit, Li Keqiang will, at the invitation of Klaus Schwab, Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), attend the Plenary Session of the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja and deliver a special speech, and will meet with state leaders of some African countries present at the session.
Li Keqiang arrived in Abuja after successfully completing his official visits to Ethiopia and the African Union headquarters. Upon leaving Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia and his wife held a grand seeing-off ceremony for Li Keqiang and Mme. Cheng Hong at the airport. The military band played the national anthems of the two countries. The local people happily bade farewell to Li Keqiang and Mme. Cheng Hong with traditional songs and dances. H.E. Xie Xiaoyan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, and others were also present at the airport to bid farewell.