‎𝗖𝗕𝗡 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮-𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿‎

‎𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀
‎
‎
• ‎The Central Bank of Nigeria has taken its push for deeper financial markets to Beijing, confirmed by Confiance News.
‎
• ‎Nigerian and Chinese business leaders put cross-border payment hurdles squarely on the table.
‎
• ‎A larger Nigerian banking presence in China is now part of the conversation.
‎
‎
‎The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has opened a direct line to business leaders in both Nigeria and China, as it works to strengthen the financial corridor between the two economies.
‎
‎According to a statement sighted by Confiance News, the apex bank convened a high-level business and financial roundtable in Beijing on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. The goal was to explore ways to deepen Nigeria’s financial markets and to identify the practical barriers holding back stronger financial flows between both countries.
‎
‎𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗕𝗡 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
‎
‎The engagement, themed “Strengthening the Nigeria-China Financial Corridor,” took place at the Pan Pacific Beijing. It gave businesses operating across both markets a platform to share firsthand experiences and discuss how financial connectivity, banking relationships and investment channels could be improved.
‎
‎Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, stressed the value of engaging directly with businesses, Confiance News learned. He explained that this approach helps the bank understand the opportunities and constraints affecting financial activity between Nigeria and China, especially those that could shape efforts to build deeper and more accessible financial markets.
‎
‎𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 P𝗮𝗻 P𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰
‎
‎Philip Ikeazor, Deputy Governor for Economic Policy at the CBN, delivered the opening remarks. He outlined the objectives of the engagement and the need to turn stronger macroeconomic fundamentals into higher investment and more developed financial markets.
‎
‎Nigeria’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), also addressed participants. In addition, Festus Mbisiogu, Chairperson of Blue Diamond Group, and Chief Diana Chen, Chairperson of CIG Motors, spoke about their experiences running businesses across the Nigeria-China corridor.
‎
‎𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱
‎
‎At the centre of the event was an interactive listening session. Participants discussed opportunities for greater financial activity, as well as the real challenges of conducting transactions between the two countries.
‎
‎Documents obtained by Confiance News show that the issues raised included the need for more efficient cross-border payment arrangements and stronger banking connectivity. Participants also pointed to the potential benefits of a larger Nigerian banking presence in China. Furthermore, these points were weighed against wider opportunities to ease financial flows and improve access to financial services and investment in Nigeria.
‎
‎The event also included a presentation on Nigeria’s economic reform progress, improved macroeconomic fundamentals and emerging opportunities in the country’s financial markets.
‎
‎To close, Cardoso reflected on the need to turn stakeholder engagement into a clearer understanding of the financial and institutional issues that require attention. The insights gathered are expected to guide the CBN’s continued engagement with relevant financial institutions and regulatory counterparts, with a focus on practical areas of cooperation within the Bank’s mandate.
‎
‎𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗕𝗡 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲
‎
‎The Beijing roundtable forms part of the CBN’s wider strategy to deepen Nigeria’s financial relationships across Asia, Confiance News gathered. The bank has already held engagements in Singapore and at the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok.
‎
‎Its China programme also includes bilateral discussions with the People’s Bank of China, talks with ICBC leadership, and meetings with Nigerian and Chinese businesses. Finally, the programme will move to Guangzhou, where the CBN will hold a listening session with the Nigerian business community. The aim is to better understand their financial challenges and to explore ways of strengthening remittance channels and facilitating investment in Nigeria.
‎
‎