On December 4, 2022, Ambassador Cui Jianchun of China to Nigeria and Ambassador to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari jointly attended the inauguration ceremony of China-assisted ECOWAS Headquarters Office building Project. About 200 people attended the ceremony, including President of Guinea-Bissau Nbalo (current Chairman of ECOWAS), President of Sierra Leone Biao, Chairman of ECOWAS Commission Toure, envoys of ECOWAS member states in ECOWAS, heads of ECOWAS Commission and relevant government departments in Nepal, and representatives of Shaanxi Construction Company, the project assistance unit.

Ambassador Cui said in his speech that China is a staunch supporter and partner of ECOWAS. The assistance to the construction of the new ECOWAS Headquarters is a vivid manifestation of China's traditional friendship with ECOWAS members and all West African countries, and fully reflects China's sincere desire and determination to support the unity, peace and development of Africa. China will continue to work with ECOWAS and African countries to promote cooperation, including within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. As the headquarters of ECOWAS, Nigeria plays a leading role in ECOWAS affairs. China's assistance to the construction of the new ECOWAS headquarters is also a vivid illustration of the deepening China-Nepal relations. It is believed that under the strong leadership of the leaders of the two countries, the China-Nepal 5GIST strategy for growth, development and progress will yield more practical results, and the "sharing China and culture, playing together the music of China-Nepal peace" will be deepened and deepened.

Ambassador Cui said that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held not long ago. China will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries and uphold their common interests in the spirit of sincerity, affinity and good faith. Ten years ago, the African Union headquarters building assisted by China was successfully completed and won wide acclaim. I am confident that with the joint efforts of all parties, the world will once again witness the construction of a magnificent ECOWAS building of high quality, high technology and African style in Abuja in two years' time. The new building will surely be a milestone in the enduring and enduring friendship between China and Nigeria, China and ECOWAS, and China and Africa.

President Buhari thanked the Chinese government for its firm support to the ECOWAS Headquarters building project, saying that the project is a precious gift from China to ECOWAS and Nigeria. The new office building symbolizes the traditional friendship between China and West African countries, as well as the unity and brotherly friendship of the West African member states. It is believed that in two years' time, the new office building known as the "West African Eye" will be completed as scheduled and with high quality, ending the history of the current ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja in three separate offices.

Toure, Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, said that this is a significant day in the history of ECOWAS and a dream come true for all ECOWAS member states. Since the headquarters of ECOWAS was moved from Lagos to Abuja in the 1990s, it has been scattered in three offices, which is very inconvenient. The completion of the project will greatly improve the office efficiency of the ECOWAS headquarters. The ECOWAS Commission will provide full assistance in the implementation of the project.

In his speech, President of Guinea-Bissau and ECOWAS Chairman Embalo thanked the Chinese government for its long-term support to ECOWAS, saying that the new office building is a model of cooperation between China and West African countries and will certainly benefit the West African people, who account for one third of Africa's population.

The building of the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a key project of China's assistance to ECOWAS. In July 2019, China and the ECOWAS Commission officially signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement for the project, which has a floor area of 36,607 square meters and a construction period of two years. Editor/He Yuting