By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Zhou Pingjian, on Sunday disclosed his home government’s plan to increase its strategic partnership with Nigeria this year.
Zhou, who made the disclosure at a reception for the celebration of the Chinese New Year in Lagos, said that the partnership between both countries would be enhanced to a mutually beneficial level.
According to him, China and Nigeria’s partnership would thus receive a boost this year as Nigeria is prepared to join the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
“In 2019, China will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
“And China stands to work with Nigeria to elevate our strategic partnership to a new level that would bring greater benefits to our two countries.
“2019 will be the year that Nigeria would formally join the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road is China’s initiative, but it will be of benefit to the world.
“Already, China and Nigeria have signed a governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the nitiativeyear will be Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, 2019.BRI,’’ he said.
Zhou said that cooperation between both countries in 2018 had resulted in the inauguration of the Abuja Light Railway and the new airport terminal in Port Harcourt.
The Chinese ambassador also added that the cooperation had led to the commencement of work on the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi road, as well as the Lagos-Ibadan Railway.
The Chairman of Overseas Chinese Association in Nigeria, Mr Lewis Tung, said that the Chinese New Year was the most important holiday for the Chinese people, which was celebrated by the gathering of every Chinese families with their friends.
“Although we may be 10,000 kilometres away from our home country, we are most thankful to be united with our Nigerian friends, the international community and Chinese families in Nigeria.
“Having been in Nigeria since the 1950s, we firmly believe that our two countries and cultures have similarities,’’ he said.
The celebration, which brought together the Chinese community in Nigeria, their Nigerian and non-Nigerian friends, was spiced with the eating of Chinese delicacies and dance performances by Chinese and Nigerian groups.
The Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is China’s most important festivaland holiday time.
Chinese New Year 2019 falls on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019 beginning the year of the Pigs.
The Chinese public holiday for this year will be Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, 2019. ——-NAN
