Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun headed a delegation to visit Nigeria from October 6 to 7, 2006. On the morning of October 7, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Zhai and his delegation on his farm and Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Xu Jianguo was among the accompanying officials.

Zhai first conveyed the cordial greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao to Obasanjo. Zhai said China has always attached importance to developing friendly relations with African countries and the Beijing summit and the third ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to be held in early November in Beijing will become a great event in the development process of China-Africa friendship. Chinese leaders expect that African leaders including President Obasanjo will attend the summit and discuss matters of vital importance with the Chinese side for the development of China-Africa friendship.

Obasanjo asked Zhai to convey his cordial greetings to President Hu. He said bilateral friendly ties have maintained steady progress for a long period of time and China is the best friend of Nigeria. The Nigerian side sincerely wished the Beijing summit and the third ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) a great success, which will help further promote China's friendship with African nations. Obasanjo said although the summit is to be held on the eve of the national congress of the Nigerian governing party, he will try to find time to attend it.