Oluyinka Akintunde, Abuja

He stated this during a separate meeting in Abuja with a delegation of Chinese investors led by the Deputy Governor of Henan Province, China, Mr. Jia Lianchao and the Argentine Ambassador to Nigeria, Jorge Vehils.

Borishade urged the Chinese delegation to take advantage of the cordial relationship between the two countries to engage in purposeful trading and investment in the aviation sector.

He said President Olus-egun Obasanjo, had expressed his desire to create effective relationship between the countries through maintaining the Sino-Nigeria trade relations and opening up investment opportunities.

On the proposal for the Bilateral Air Service agreement, the minister said it had been sent to China for the fine-tuning of the technical aspects of the agreements.

Lianchao lauded the Nigerian government for its effort towards ensuring an air link between the country and Henan Province of China.

He said President Obasa-njo had granted the use of the Lagos International Trade Fair to the Henan Province to develop into a special Trade Free Zone, adding that the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, would be linked with the TFZ.

He called for a direct flight from Nigeria to Henan Province as part of measures to promote Sino-Nigeria Trade relations.

Borishade also called for collaboration in airspace management between Nigeria and Argentina.

The minister noted that both countries had similar interest in the aviation sector, particularly in radar coverage, which, according to him, was the key to effective management of the airspace.

典he technology of radar equipment has been improving by the day and as such poses some challenges and needs cross fertilisation of ideas by both countries to come to grips with identified common problems,・he added.

He assured that there would soon be a direct flight from Nigeria to Argentina and enjoined the Ambassador to send a delegation of aviation officials to discuss with their counterparts in Nigeria.

THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006