With solid trade and infrastructure partnerships in place, Nigeria is hopeful that its future cooperation with China will encompass new areas and serve to broaden exchanges, said Nigerian Finance Minister Wale Edun.
In an exclusive interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) in the Nigerian capital Abuja, Edun said the country's relations with China are on a firm pathway forward.
"We are very much looking forward to the new conversations that can be heard in the areas of development generally, for physical development in particular, but also other areas, cultural exchanges and some of the softer side of all of things as supposed to jobs, roads, bridges, railways, which are critical. Today, China is Nigeria's largest trading partner. It's an ongoing relationship, it's a developing relationship, it is a substantial one, and is very important to Nigeria, and we like to believe that is also very important to China," he said.
At the same time, Nigeria is China's largest engineering contracting market, second largest export market, third-largest trading partner and major investment destination in Africa.
Edun noted that China has been playing a leading role in promoting South-South cooperation, especially by financing underdeveloped countries and through high-quality co-construction under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
"China is a big voice in the Global South, along with countries like India and Brazil, they are playing the leading role in advocating for the Global South. Of course, Nigeria, as the largest country in Africa, has a big role to play, a big voice on the continent. South-South cooperation is critical, but I think what China has managed to do very well is that it has managed to provide resources, as you say, on a win-win basis. But it has been able to provide financing for development. China, in particular, has been a big financier. Of course, under the BRI, the Belt and Road Initiative, to name that one of the biggest methodologies, and one of the channels that China has used to really support the development in the [Global] South," he said.
Nigeria welcomes expanded cooperation areas with China: finance minister
A special cultural event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held in Berlin, Germany on Saturday.
Titled "Written in the Sky: My China Story," the event was jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG), the Chinese Embassy in Germany, and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education.
During the event, the John Rabe Communication Center, the German Burg Chinese Chorus, the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, and the Federation of Germany-China Friendship Association officially joined the global partnership program of the "Written in the Sky: My China Story" campaign and were awarded certificates on Saturday.
The German Burg Chinese Chorus performed classic Chinese and German songs, including "On Wings of Song" and "Jasmine Flower." The Shenzhou-18 crew, currently in orbit, sent a video message from the space station and interacted with German teenagers.
The attendees of the event held in Berlin agreed that as the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have gained increasing global support, China has not only brought opportunities to the world but also built bridges of friendship with people from various countries.
Attendees wrote their wishes for the PRC's 75th anniversary, expressing their commitment to continuing their stories with China to address global challenges and create a better future for humanity.
Shen Haixiong, president of CMG, stated that China aims to strengthen international people-to-people exchanges, promote dialogue among global civilizations, and enhance mutual understanding.
"We will portray the ultimate romantic warmth of Chinese culture, record the continuous legacy of human civilization, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," said Shen.
Chinese Ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo noted that both China and Germany have a profound cultural heritage, and their mutual appreciation and exchange of knowledge have been ongoing.
In an era of challenges, Deng emphasized the need for strengthened communication and cooperation, expressing hope that more young Germans will learn Chinese, develop an interest in Chinese culture, visit China, and become ambassadors of Sino-German friendship and exchange.
Nearly 200 attendees from various sectors, including politics, culture, diplomacy, economy, and trade, as well as young teachers and students, participated in the event.
Multiple mainstream European media, such as Italy's il Giornale and EU Reporter, covered the event, reaching a total audience of nearly 15 million in Europe.
Launched in March this year, the campaign “Written in the Sky: My China Story” has collected more than 1,600 stories from China and over 60 countries across the globe. It will also be held in other countries, including the U.S., Canada, Russia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Nigeria.
Special event celebrating 75th anniversary of founding of PRC held in Berlin
