The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Gu Xiaojie, on Tuesday said that the Chinese government would henceforth sanction any Chinese company that would disobey Nigeria’s local content and labour laws.

Gu made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos following complaints by some Nigerians that the companies were not obeying Nigerian labour laws.

The Envoy, however, said that he was yet to get any report from relevant Nigerian government authorities of such companies that were violating the laws.

“As an Embassy, we have always urged our companies in Nigeria to be law-abiding, as well as engage in their Corporate Social Responsibilities in their host communities.

“Specifically, I am not aware of these isolated cases of complaints that Chinese companies are not obeying Nigerian Labour laws.

“We have always reminded our companies that they should not put profit above the well-being and interest of Nigerians working with them.”

Gu also said that it was imperative for the companies to obey Nigerian laws, just as the Chinese government would want foreign companies and nationals in China to obey its laws.

The ambassador noted that the existing relationship between Chinese and Nigerians was being hampered by language, culture and proper understanding of themselves.

Gu said that the Chinese government was working hard at eradicating the current challenges in the people-to-people interaction between Chinese and Nigerians.

“Let me say that there is today much of Chinese companies presence across Nigeria which shows the existing relationship between China and Nigeria.

“Chinese companies are today providing so much job opportunities to Nigerians in different parts of Nigeria.

“Let me say that China’s policy for Africa is that of openness, transparency, friendliness and win-win cooperation.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Gu Xiaojie.