LAGOS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Trade between Nigeria and China may top Africa in three years given its quick and steady development, according to Nigerian Ambassador to China Aminu Wali.

    The News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying on Monday that bilateral trade has consecutively grown for the past three years to an annual 10 billion U. S. dollars, due to the existing bilateral trade agreement.

    "The volume of trade between Nigeria and China is quite big and it is expanding. We have lots of bilateral trade agreements which have increased the volume of trade," he said.

    "Given the present growth rate, Nigeria will become China's biggest trading partner in Africa in the next two to three years," the ambassador said.

    According to the envoy, the Chinese government has packaged incentives including tax relief to facilitate trade.

    The envoy said bilateral agreement on education as well as cultural exchanges has paved way for the influx of Nigerians into China, noting that over 1,000 Nigerians are studying in various parts of China.

    Wali said some students failed to notify the Embassy of their presence, thereby making it difficult to determine the exact number of Nigerians studying in China.

    He described the relationship between nationals of both countries as "quite cordial except for the activities of illegal immigrants."