Nigeria-China trade volume exceeds $20bln in 2024 – Chinese Amb. Dunhai

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has revealed that the trade volume between Nigeria and China in 2024 exceeded $20 billion.

At the Chinese Cultural Center’s Saturday celebration of the lunar New Year in Abuja, the diplomat made the disclosure.

According to Dunhai, China is eager to collaborate with Nigeria to expand trade volumes because they believe there is potential there.

He added that Nigeria is the nation where China is the world’s third-largest trade partner and has the biggest engineering contract.

President Bola Tinubu’s visit to China marked the culmination of a successful year for the two countries, with the climax of that success being the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

“2025 will be a lot better. ”

The very close people-to-people and cultural exchange, according to the ambassador, is one of the key pillars of the Nigeria-China relationship, and the Chinese New Year celebration serves as a significant catalyst for this exchange.

Being a partner nation of the BRICS, China looks forward to putting into action the 10 Action Partnerships that will benefit the citizens of the two nations because Nigeria is a significant African nation with significant international influence.

To all of Nigeria’s Chinese communities, happy Chinese New Year. I also wish the people of Nigeria a year filled with joy, peace, prosperity, and love.

“The year of the snake represents hard work, intelligence, happiness, so we hope that the year of the snake will bring peace and prosperity for Chinese and Nigerian people.

“Each year, we organize this Spring Festival Temple Fair, and this year, we invited over 2,000, both Nigerians and Chinese, to enjoy and celebrate together with us,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr. According to Oraeluno Raphael Obi, the relationship between China and Nigeria is “steeped in history,” marked by reciprocal admiration and aspirations.

“Just as the snake sheds its skin to embrace new beginnings, our bilateral ties continue to evolve, reflecting our commitment to wisdom and transformation. ”

The two nations, according to Obi, have a common trait: rich, diverse cultures with deep historical roots that still shape their contemporary societies.

According to him, despite their geographical distance, they find common ground in their shared values of family, community, and respect for elders, as reflected in the vibrant festivals of Nigeria and the colorful traditions of China.

He added that both countries’ rich culinary delights, diverse artistic expressions, and cherished traditional customs inspire strong demonstrations of the beauty of their cultures, instilling a strong sense of intercultural understanding and appreciation.

He said: “The goodwill that China has extended towards Nigeria in various sectors, particularly in culture and tourism, has been instrumental in enhancing our bilateral relationship.

The co-operation between cultural exchanges, art exhibitions, and tourism initiatives has not only improved our societies but also opened up new markets for economic growth and development.

I want to reaffirm our commitment to fostering and strengthening the bilateral cultural ties between Nigeria and China as we approach the new year.

The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy is “focused on implementing policies and programs that promote cultural exchange, promote artistic collaboration, and expand tourism opportunities.

We envision a world where our cultural exchanges flourish, forming a network of reciprocal experiences. ”

Also in his remarks, Mr. Since establishing diplomatic relations in the middle of the 20th century, Xu Zhen Tao, the deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, said Nigeria and China have a long-standing friendship.

He said: “Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Nigeria cooperation not only deepens the bilateral relations, but creates more opportunities for realizing stability, prosperity and development across the African continent and even globally. ”

The Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research in Nigeria, Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, noted that the event is part of cultural integration, where we learn from each other.

This mutual understanding, he added, enables us to coexist peacefully, as we accept and appreciate the values and norms of other cultures.