On April 29, 2025, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Yu Dunhai, met with the Deputy Governor of Benue State, H.E. Barr. Dr. Sam Ode.

Ambassador Yu stated that China is willing to work with Benue State to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries last year and the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and other fields. He emphasized that the recent indiscriminate imposition of tariffs by the United States has severely undermined multilateral trade rules and the legitimate rights and interests of nations worldwide. The international community, he urged, must unite in opposing unilateral bullying practices by the U.S. China stands ready to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with Nigeria to jointly uphold international peace and justice.

In response, Deputy Governor Sam Ode acknowledged the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and China, noting that practical bilateral cooperation had yielded significant benefits for Nigerian communities. He affirmed Nigeria's willingness to strengthen exchanges and collaboration with China across all sectors. The Deputy Governor also reiterated Nigeria's firm support for trade liberalization, investment facilitation, and the protection of international trade rules.