A seminar on promoting culture and tourism exchange between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China was held on Friday, July 12 at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, with experts calling for more collaboration under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by China.
Co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, the China Alumni Association, and the University of Abuja, the event was attended by distinguished personalities including Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor and Director of the China Cultural Center in Nigeria, Professor Sherrif Ghali Ibrahim, Head of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Abuja, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, and Muhammad Sulaiman, President of the Society of Nigerian Artists.
In his welcome remarks, Counsellor Li Xuda emphasized the importance of cultural and tourism exchange as a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation between China and Nigeria. He expressed hope that the event would help bridge the cultural gaps and exchange barriers between the two countries, further strengthening the mutual understanding and traditional friendship.
Professor Sherrif Ghali Ibrahim, in his keynote speech, provided insights from both the Kazakhstani and Indonesian viewpoints on the BRI. He highlighted the initiative’s five priorities, including policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. The professor emphasized that the BRI is a “concerted effort” to create “an international community of a shared future for humanity.”
Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, emphasized the significance of culture and tourism as powerful tools for bridging gaps and fostering mutual understanding between Nigeria and China. He noted that the Belt and Road Initiative provides a robust framework for cultural and tourism exchanges, enabling the two countries to share their rich cultural heritage while embracing the diverse cultures of their partners.
Participants at the seminar engaged in discussions on the potential of cultural and tourism exchanges to further strengthen the BRI’s objectives, including the development of intermarriages and interracialism, as well as the promotion of knowledge and investment opportunities.
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an ambitious global infrastructure development strategy aimed at investing in more than 150 countries and international organizations.
Since joining the BRI in 2018, Nigeria has been a major beneficiary of the initiative, with the Chinese government providing funds needed for the construction of rail lines, ports, power plants, roads, and the renovation of airports.
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