China Pledges Partnership With ABER on Blue Economy, Delta Governance
The Government of China has expressed readiness to partner the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) to advance cooperation in the Blue Economy, coastal management and delta governance across Africa.
The Chinese Government also identified sustainable river basin management, coastal protection, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) management and ocean literacy as priority areas for collaboration.
The commitment was conveyed on Wednesday in Abuja when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yu Dunhai, represented by the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Mr Sun Xuekun, received a delegation of ABER led by its Convener and Founder, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo.
The Ambassador said China regarded Nigeria as a strategic partner in the Gulf of Guinea and was committed to strengthening maritime and economic cooperation with Nigeria and other African countries.
He cited China’s involvement in port development, railway infrastructure, free trade zones and maritime logistics, noting that cooperation could be extended to river basin management, coastal protection, delta governance and capacity building under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
In his remarks, Kiyaramo commended the Chinese Government and East China Normal University (ECNU), Shanghai, for initiating the China-Africa Cooperation on River Basins, Coastal Zones and Delta Governance.
He described the initiative as an important development in China-Africa relations, particularly in addressing the interconnected challenges of river systems, coastal communities and delta environments.
Kiyaramo said ABER, a Pan-African platform comprising more than 400 maritime experts, academics, industry leaders and seafarers across 25 coastal states and the Diaspora, was positioned to facilitate collaboration between African institutions and international partners.
He said the organisation was promoting Africa’s Blue Economy through its Identify, Protect and Harness framework, with emphasis on policy advocacy, research, community inclusion and continental cooperation.
The ABER convener said the organisation had championed the development of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, approved in May 2025.
He added that ABER was advocating a complementary National River Basin and Delta Governance Framework, drawing lessons from China’s integrated approach to managing the Yangtze River Delta.
Kiyaramo also proposed an ECNU-ABER River-Delta Knowledge Hub in Nigeria to support joint research, data collection, river monitoring and capacity development.
The proposed centre, he said, would facilitate the establishment of monitoring stations along the Niger and Benue rivers and provide training opportunities for African hydrologists.
He said ABER’s Africa Blue Ocean Guardians initiative would also promote the participation of women fish processors, fishermen and young people in coastal protection and community-based river monitoring.
According to him, the organisation is working to extend the ECNU initiative beyond the Niger Delta to other major African river systems, including the Senegal River Delta and Congo Basin.
“We have discussed Blue Economy as a sea economy. Yet 60 per cent of marine pollution comes from rivers, and 70 per cent of fish breed in deltas.
“You cannot govern the sea without governing the river that feeds it. ECNU has understood this nexus,” he said.
Kiyaramo said the proposed collaboration would help address environmental degradation, coastal erosion, pollution and other challenges confronting African riverine and coastal communities.
To advance the partnership, he proposed that ABER be designated Nigeria’s implementing partner for ECNU’s Africa programme.
He also proposed a joint China-Africa River-Coast-Delta Fellowship to provide annual training opportunities at ECNU for 20 African scholars.
Another proposal was for an Abuja-Shanghai Delta Governance Dialogue to be hosted in Yenagoa during ABER’s proposed Gulf of Guinea Blue Economy Media Summit, with the Chinese Embassy and ECNU as co-hosts.
Kiyaramo said the proposals were intended to translate China-Africa cooperation into practical research, policy development and investment opportunities.
The meeting ended with both parties expressing readiness to deepen technical engagements towards developing a formal partnership framework.
The ABER delegation included Dr Amenya Kartay, Chief of Staff and Head of Abuja Liaison Bureau; Hajiya Madina Dauda Nadabo, Director of Communication and Public Affairs; Prince Ibiok, Director of ICT and Digital Innovation; and Celina Momoh, Special Assistant to t
he Convener on Protocol.
