China, Nigeria to deepen cooperation in culture, tourism – envoy

The Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of China in Nigeria, Mr Yang Jianxing, has disclosed that his country’s willingness to explore broader cooperation opportunities in culture and tourism with Nigeria. Yang, also the Director of the China Culture Centre, Abuja, disclosed this over the weekend at the 2026 China Tourism Day Event in Abuja with the theme […]

The Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of China in Nigeria, Mr Yang Jianxing, has disclosed that his country’s willingness to explore broader cooperation opportunities in culture and tourism with Nigeria.

Yang, also the Director of the China Culture Centre, Abuja, disclosed this over the weekend at the 2026 China Tourism Day Event in Abuja with the theme “Enjoying Quality Tourism, Exploring Beautiful Landscapes.”

Yang explained that tourism serves as a bond for cultural exchange and a bridge for mutual understanding.

He stressed that both countries are ancient civilisations, possessing magnificent natural landscapes and profound historical and cultural heritage.

The cultural envoy stressed that “the exchanges and cooperation between China and Nigeria in the fields of culture and tourism have yielded fruitful and remarkable results.”

“Looking to the future, China is willing to work with Nigeria, taking the ‘China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges’ as an opportunity to continuously deepen practical cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism.

“We will jointly explore broader cooperation opportunities in areas such as cultural heritage protection, creative industry development, and tourism route promotion.

“We welcome more Nigerian friends to learn Chinese, visit China in person, explore its magnificent landscapes, and experience its long-standing civilisation.

“We also look forward to more Chinese tourists visiting Nigeria to experience the unique charm and boundless vitality of this West African land,” Yang said.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, said that the celebration is not only a recognition of China’s rich tourism heritage, but also a recognition of the growing cultural and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and China.

He noted that cultural exchanges between Nigeria and China have benefited Nigeria more.

“The collaboration between Nigeria and China in the area of culture and tourism continues to yield meaningful outcomes. Apart from social, this provides opportunities for knowledge sharing, investment, and people-to-people connections that are essential for sustainable development in the tourism and cultural sector,” he added.

The Permanent Secretary further noted, “As a ministry, we remain committed to promoting Nigeria as a top destination for tourism, while also strengthening international partnerships that will enhance our tourism and value chain.”