NIGERIA: OBASANJO TO VISIT CHINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001932 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2001 TAGS: ETRD NI PREL MASS CH SUBJECT: NIGERIA: OBASANJO TO VISIT CHINA Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter. Reason: 1.5(b). ¶1. (C) Mission has learned that the much-discussed but never-before-scheduled State Visit to China of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is now slated for late August. President Obasanjo plans to leave Nigeria on August 25, and depart China on August 29, arriving in Nigeria on August 30. ¶2. (U) Chinese nationals have long been active in manufacturing in Nigeria, notably in textiles and plastic products. More recently, a wider range of Chinese (and other East Asian origin) low-cost consumer goods has become available in Nigeria -- often to the consterntion of domestic manufacturers who cannot compete effectively. Chinese firms in the engineering sector (onshore seismic operations in oil-producing areas and large civil engineering projects in Abuja (CCECC) and telecommunications are also establishing strong profiles here. The Chinese have also sought to establish a presence in the sale of defense-related articles. Jeter