Nigeria had proposed establishing direct air flights to China to boost socio-economic activities and open up investment opportunities between the two countries, Nigeria's Federal Minister of Aviation Babalola Borishade has said.

Borishade said the proposal was a directive from Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had instructed his ministry to strengthen the Nigeria-China relationship through cooperation in all facets.

"Already a proposal for the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries has been sent to China," Borishade said Friday during a meeting with a Chinese business delegation led by Jia Lianchao, deputy governor of Henan Province, north China.

The aviation minister noted that all the political hurdles had been cleared, while the technical aspects of the agreement were being fine tuned.

The China-Nigeria economic relations and trade have seen remarkable growth over the past years with the two-way trade volume having increased to US$2.83 billion in 2005.

A direct air link between the two countries is believed to be a great help for the business of an estimated 50,000 Chinese who are doing trade in the west African country.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2006)