Abuja (Nigeria) – Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described China as one of the most important partners in Nigeria’s quest to develop its infrastructures and tourism sector.
The minister made this known while receiving the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Nigeria, Ambassador Gu Xiaojie, who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja recently.
Statement by the special Assistant to the Minister, Segun Adeyemi, quoted the minister to have said that, the Nigerian government holds very dear its relationship with China.
”China is a veritable development partner with Nigeria. The relationship between the two countries started at the level of cultural collaboration but has now gone beyond that to the developmental level,” he said.
He cited examples of the strategic relationship between the two countries; partnership between the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Star Times of China; the funds being provided by China for Nigeria’s rail project and the involvement of a Chinese firm in the Lagos State Government rail project.
He also called for more partnership between the two in the area of tourism, saying China has done well, especially in the area of domestic tourism.
While accepting the invitation to attend the First World Conference on Tourism Development in China in May 2016, the Minister said the trip would give him the opportunity to exchange views with China’s Tourism authorities on how best to help boost tourism in Nigeria.
Earlier in his remarks, Ambassador Xiaojie described the relationship between his country and Nigeria as ‘excellent and strategic’.
He said both countries attach great importance to the relationship and would work harder to strengthen it, especially in the areas of information, tourism and culture.